WO2022194331A1

WO2022194331A1 - A data forwarding element and a method of controlling it

Info

Publication number: WO2022194331A1
Application number: PCT/DK2022/050047
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Ulrik VON SCHOLTEN
Original assignee: Northq Aps
Priority date: 2021-03-15
Filing date: 2022-03-14
Publication date: 2022-09-22
Also published as: EP4309376A1

Abstract

A system with one or more detectors, sensors or meters outputting sensor data received by a data forwarding element forwarding a part of the sensor data to a data receiving element. The data forwarding element may discard sensor data not received at particular points in time so as to ensure that the data output is in accordance with a data owner's wishes.

Description

A DATA FORWARDING ELEMENT AND A METHOD OF CONTROLING IT

The present method relates to a data forwarding element and in particular an element configured to receive data from a meter, sensor or detector and forward the data to a data storage or display, where only a portion of the data is forwarded.

Relevant technology may be seen in US2015/0135259, US2018/0172664, AU2009/202733, WO2017/034812 and US2020/0221518.

Background of the invention

Data from meters, sensors and detectors may be data from a house, apartment, building, room, company, factory, school, space or the like. Some of this data may be used for controlling one or more parameter in the house or the like, such as a heating thereof. Data may also be used for monitoring a consumption in the house or the like, such as a consumption of electricity. Data may be used for billing an owner, administrator, tenant or the like for consumption, such as the consumption of electricity, gas, water and/or heat.

In order to control or monitor the house or the like, data may be desired with a high frequency, such as a reading at least each hour, but preferably at least 4 times per hour.

Such data may, however, reveal whether the house or the like is inhabited and potentially also how many inhabitants are present. A water consumption may reveal each toilet visit, each bath, each run of the dishwashing machine or washing machine. A consumption of water may thus directly indicate that the house or the like is not uninhabited. Electricity consumption may be equally revealing.

Thus, such data may be seen as personal data falling under the privacy laws of some countries, such as the GDPR regulation of the EU.

On the other hand, if the data is to be used for billing, the consumption or other data is required for that purpose at least once for each billing period.

Meters, sensors or detectors may be simple devices which output data at regular intervals or for each event, where an event may be the opening of a window or unlocking of a door. An event, however, may also be the detection or sensing of a consumption of a particular quantity. A sensor or meter may output data each time a minimum or predetermined consumption has been detected. Collecting this data may, however, be in contrast to the person’s or data owner’s wishes under the privacy regulation.

Some meters and sensors are capable of outputting absolute values, so that each time data is output, an absolute meter value is output. This may be in addition to other data, such as a period of time, a meter/sensor ID, a date, a time of day or the like.

In order to not having to alter the meters, sensors or detectors which may be standardized and officially approved, the invention relates to a manner of obtaining the data in accordance with e.g. the data owners desired frequency. Description of the invention

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a data forwarding system comprising: a sensor, meter or detector capable of outputting sensor data, a data forwarding element comprising: a data receiving part configured to receive sensor data from the meter/detector/sensor, a data outputting element configured to output output data to the data receiver, and a controlling unit configured to: receive information relating to a frequency or periods of time or points in time of receiving and/or outputting data, convert the sensor data to the output data in accordance with the received information, and control the data outputting element to output the output data and a data receiver configured to receive the output data.

A sensor, meter or detector is capable of outputting sensor data. A sensor or a detector may be an element capable of sensing or detecting a parameter, such as relating to an electrical, magnetic, temperature, light intensity, noise, or proximity property, a concentration of a molecule or agent or liquid or gas or fluid, or a parameter or condition, such as that a door or window is open or closed, locked or not, that a movement takes place, that a person or animal is in the vicinity, or the like.

A meter may determine or sense a parameter or a quantity, such as a consumption, flow, volume, or the like. A consumption may be a consumption of electricity, gas, water or heat. A meter, sensor or detector may provide multiple types of information, such as water consumption, flow, temperature, electricity consumption, voltage, current, voltage and/or current on individual phases, or the like.

The meter, sensor or detector is configured to output the sensor data. The sensor data may be transmitted via wires or wirelessly using any desired protocol. Wired protocols may be wired ZigBee, Modbus, Mbus, Canbus, Bacnet, TCP/IP, KNX, WiFi, FireWire, RS232 or the like. Wireless communication may take place via Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, WMBus, Z-wave, Wireless KNX. Also, communication of the output data to the data receiver may take place using any type of communication, such as via the internet and often via wires or wirelessly.

A data receiver is configured to receive data from the sensor, detector or meter, but a data forwarding element is provided for processing or filtering the data from the sensor/detector/meter before reaching the data receiver.

The data receiver may be used for or configured to calculating or billing of a consumption indicated by the data, displaying the data or part thereof or for deriving further information from the data, such as for controlling one or more parameters of a building or space in which the sensor/meter/detector is provided or a parameter of which the sensor/meter/detector determines or senses. In addition, further information may be determined from the data, such as information relating to a development over time of a parameter, such as detection of a water leak, determination of one or more parameters which is/are out of bounds, or the like. The data or information may be forwarded to one or computers, tablets or mobile phones, which may be the data receiver or which may receive data from a data receiver, for analysing, describing or illustrating the data or information. Also, if alarms are generated, such as parameter(s) out of bounds, water leaks or the like, this information may be forwarded to such computer/tablet/phone to inform a user of this situation.

The data forwarding element comprises a data receiving part configured to receive sensor data from the meter/detector/sensor and a data outputting element configured to output the output data to the data receiver. Thus, plugs, connectors, antennas, detectors, emitters, cables, optical fibres or the like may be provided for such data transmission.

In addition, the data forwarding element comprises a controlling unit. The controlling unit may comprise one or more controllers, processors, ASICs, FPGAs or the like. Multiple such elements may be provided, such as a mix thereof. The controlling unit may be software controlled, such as by firmware.

The data forwarding element may be a concentrator, gateway or the like positioned in e.g. an apartment building and receiving data from multiple meters or the like in multiple apartments. The data forwarding element may communicate with the data receiver via a local WiFi network, such as a network of an apartment or via more regional or longer ranging networks, such as GSM, 4G, 5G, LoFta or the like.

The controlling unit is configured to receive information relating to a frequency or periods of time or points in time or points in time of receiving and/or outputting data. A frequency may be one or more times per hour, per day, per week, per month or per year. A period of time may be one or more minutes, hours, days, weeks or months. A point in time may be represented as YYYYMMDDMMSS or as an integer when the time is represented as an increasing value (which may wrap around when reaching a maximum value) or the like.

The controlling unit is configured to convert the sensor data to the output data in accordance with the received information. “In accordance” may be a discarding of sensor data not received or output at a point in time indicated by the information, and/or not received or output within a predetermined period of time from that point in time. For example, a frequency may be once each month or once each week. Then, sensor data may be retained or discarded which is not received on any day other than e.g. Sunday, or any other date than the last day of the month. In fact, only the last sensor data received or output before the end of that day or only the first data received or output after the end of that day may be retained and thus not discarded. Alternatively, sensor data may be retained or discarded if not received or output within e.g. a predetermined day, an hour, a minute or the like from a point in time, such as a date, noon, or 6:00AM.

Thus, the received information may indicate that a single sensor data value or reading may be output for each period of the frequency or at, before or after each point in time or between two points in time of the received information.

Thus, the output data may form a portion of the sensor data received. When sensor data is discarded, the output data may be the sensor data which is not discarded. In one manner, the controlling unit may store the latest output data and compare a time stamp thereof with a time stamp of the latest received sensor data. If the controlling unit is to forward output data only once each day, it may compare the days of the sensor data and output data and output, as new output data, sensor data with a new date. The same may be the situation for months, hours or weeks, if week numbers are present. Otherwise, the controlling unit may be able to add a fixed number of dates to the date of the output data and then not output output data until sensor data arrives with this new date in its time stamp.

Alternatively, sensor data may be received and combined into output data, such as when a mathematical operation is performed on a number of individual pieces of sensor data to arrive at the output data. In one situation, the mathematical operation may be performed on the data to determine whether a predetermined condition or situation exists, such as if a water leak is detected. A water consumption is expected to drop to zero for at least a predetermined period of time each day for a normal household. If this is not seen, a water leak may be present. The mathematical operation may realize this and result in corresponding output data which may be a warning or alarm of that condition. An indoor temperature may rise very swiftly and/or may exceed e.g. 35 degrees Celsius, which both may be indicative of a fire.

Such output data may be output as soon as determined, as such alarms may be important to relay to an operator or user of the data receiving element.

In another situation, the mathematical operation may be a summing or an averaging. Then, data received during one or more periods may be combined in this manner and/or sensor data received between two, such as two neighbouring, points in time may be combined into the output data. Such output data may be output when the period(s) of time has elapsed.

Receipt of the sensor data by the data receiving part may be logged, so that data may be discarded, retained or combined in accordance with the point in time of receipt. Also or alternatively, the sensor data may comprise or represent a point in time of outputting of the sensor data from the sensor/detector/meter or a point in time where the detector/sensor/meter senses, detects, determines, meters or other obtains the parameter or data to form the sensor data. Thus, the discarding/retaining/combining may be based on any point in time.

The output data is then output by the outputting element as controlled by the controlling unit.

As mentioned, the information may define a series of points in time. A frequency may represent a series of points in time, which may be equidistant in time, such as every X days, every Y hours, every Z minutes or the like. A frequency may alternatively be once each month or once each year, even though months and years do not have the same length in time.

Thus, a point in time of a period of the frequency, such as a day, an hour, a date of a month, a day of a year. The point in time may be defined with the precision desired. A point in time may be a particular day, where any point in time during that day is acceptable, or a time of day on that date.

Often, the data is not obtained on that particular point in time, so the last data received before that point in time or the next data received after that point in time may be selected. Thus, the data forwarding element may comprise a clock or a receiver for receiving a clocking signal for the data forwarding element to be able to determine when a point in time arrives. Alternatively, the information may, when received, represent a point in time. Thus, in one embodiment, the data forwarding element may be configured to accept or discard sensor data, such as the latest sensor data received before the receipt of the information, the next sensor data received after having received the information, or the like. Thus, the information may be transmitted to or received by the data forwarding element at or around a predetermined point in time. A central timing element may be configured to output the information at the desired points in time.

In one situation, the controlling unit is configured to, in the converting step, discard received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information. In this manner, only sensor data received, output or obtained/generated at points in time in accordance with the information may be retained. This has the advantage that if the sensor/meter/detector outputs data often, such as when detecting/sensing/determining a particular situation, such as the consumption of certain quantity of a utility, such as power, heat, gas, water or the like, frequent determination of the consumption or meter value may indicate a number of persons present, whether someone is at home or not, and the like.

Thus, such data may be considered personal and thus may be decided, by a person consuming the utility, owning or renting a house or apartment in which the sensor/detector/meter is provided, to not be forwarded to the data receiver. Then, the data forwarding element may perform this filtering in order to ensure that the data output is in accordance with the person’s wishes.

In one situation, the sensor/detector/meter may require an acknowledgement in order to not attempt retransmission of the data or even to seek to forward the data along alternative routes. Such retransmission could risk having the sensor data reach the data receiving element against the wishes of the data owner. Additionally retransmission attempts will consume power. Then, the controlling unit may be configured to: receive sensor data from the data receiving part and control the data receiving part to transmit an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector and discard or retain the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

In that or another situation, the controlling unit is configured to: receive sensor data from the data receiving part and discard the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

In one situation, the controlling unit may be configured to: receive first sensor data from the data receiving part, perform a mathematical calculation on the first sensor data, and output, as the output data, a result of the mathematical calculation.

As described above and below, the mathematical calculation may be performed on sensor data, such as sensor data received over a period of time, to determine or search for predetermined conditions or situations, such as a water leak, fire, or the like. If that condition is seen, the output data may reflect this and may be output without delay.

In that or another situation, the controlling unit may be configured to receive first sensor data from the data receiving part between two points in time, such as two neighbouring points in time, of the sequence of points in time.

The mathematical calculation or operation may be an averaging of sensor/detector/meter data, such as if the sensor/detector/meter outputs incremental or relative data or values. Thus, a meter may output data when a predetermined amount of a utility is consumed. A meter may regularly output data relating to a consumption determined since the last time data was output. Thus, a total consumption may be obtained by summing the amounts represented in the data output.

Alternatively, as the sensor data, such as consumption data, may be considered personal, it may be desired to anonymize this data by e.g. providing an average of the data. When an average is calculated, a time related structure or system may be removed and thus no longer discernible from the data.

The mathematical function or operation may be performed on groups of sensor data received or output between respective points in time, such as respective neighbouring points in time of the sequence of points in time, or within respective period of a frequency.

In one situation, the data forwarding element is configured to store sensor data, such as all sensor data received from the detector/sensor/meter and log when such sensor data is received, generated or output and to output such sensor data when it has been received/generated/output no less than a predetermined period of time ago. Thus, only sensor data having an age at least the predetermined period of time is output. It may be desired to still perform the mathematical operation and output any result thereof as described above. It may also be preferred to still output only a selection of the sensor data as described above.

However, it may be desired to be able to feed all sensor data to the data receiver but merely ensure that it is sufficiently delayed. The delay or period of time may be represented in the information.

In that situation, the output data may be the sensor data, where the outputting ensures that only sensor data of a sufficient “age”, such as one day or older, one week or older, one month or older, for example, is output.

In one embodiment, a datalogger is provided between the detector/sensor/meter and the data forwarding element. The data logger may be configured to receive or read the sensor data from/in the meter/sensor/detector and to forward this to the data forwarding element. This data logger may also be configured to perform the above-described mathematical operation if desired and/or store the data form the sensor. In that context, the present “sensor, detector and/or meter” may be the assembly a data logger and a sensor/detector/meter. Naturally, multiple sensors, meters or detectors may be provided all outputting output data to be received by the data forwarding element. Then, different points in time or different frequencies may be defined or determined for each sensor/detector/meter or groups thereof.

The information describing or representing the points in time or frequency/frequencies may be fed to the data forwarding element from the data receiver or another controlling entity, such as a server or an operator’s computer, PC, tablet, mobile phone or the like. Such information may clearly be altered over time, such as when legislation changes or when a new tenant moves into an apartment.

The invention also relates to a data forwarding element comprising: a data receiving part configured to receive sensor data from the meter/detector/sensor, a data outputting element configured to output output data to the data receiver, and a controlling unit configured to: receive information relating to a frequency or periods of time or points in time of receiving and/or outputting data, convert the sensor data to the output data in accordance with the received information, and control the data outputting element to output the output data.

The features of the data forwarding element may be as those described above, and the above considerations and situations as well as embodiments and aspects are also valid for this definition of the data receiving element.

As described above, the information may define a series of points in time.

Also, the controlling unit may be configured to, in the converting step, discard received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

The controlling unit may be configured to: receive sensor data from the data receiving part and control the data receiving part to transmit an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector and discard the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

Also, the controlling unit may be configured to: receive sensor data from the data receiving part and discard the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

In addition or alternatively, the controlling unit can be configured to: receive first sensor data from the data receiving part, perform a mathematical calculation on the first sensor data, and output, as the output data, a result of the mathematical calculation.

It may be desired that the controlling unit is configured to receive the first sensor data from the data receiving part between two points in time, such as two neighbouring points in time, of the sequence of points in time.

The mathematical calculation or operation may be as described above.

This data forwarding element may be used in the system described further above and thus combined all embodiments, situations and aspects below and above.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of operating a data forwarding system as described above, the method comprising the steps of: the sensor, meter or detector outputting sensor data, the data receiving part receiving the sensor data, the controlling unit:

• receiving information relating to a frequency or periods of time or points in time of receiving and/or outputting data, and

• converting the sensor data to output data in accordance with the received information, the data outputting element outputting the output data.

The communication of the sensor data and the output data may take place using any desired protocol or protocols.

The operation of the sensor/meter/detector may be the determination of a parameter, quantity, situation, condition, event or the like. The sensor/meter/detector may output sensor data relating to the parameter, quantity or the like as well as potentially other information, such as a point in time of obtaining the data, reading the consumption or the like. A quantity or parameter may be a consumption of a utility, an amount of consumed utility, a temperature, a relative humidity, a pressure, a partial pressure of a gas, a flow, or the like. A situation or event may be a temperature being exceeded, a parameter or value rising or dropping too fast, a presence of a person or animal near a sensor, a door/window opening or closing, a lock being locked or opened, a water leak, or other warnings.

Other sensor data from the sensor/meter/detector may be warnings of e.g. leaks, fire, a presence of a person in a room expected to be empty, an unlocking or opening of a door or window or the like.

The data receiving element may collect the output data and re-distribute it to other elements, such as for users or administrators of buildings, houses, apartments, or the like. The data receiving element may analyze the data, such as to perform billing of consumption identified by or represented by the output data. The data receiving element may divide the output data and feed individual output data to individual further recipients such as to monitor events, conditions, data or consumption in different houses/apartments or the like.

Obviously, the description further above describes features, situations and the like which are also relevant in relation to the method. The method may be a method of operating the system described above.

The sensor, meter or detector preferably determines consumption of electricity, gas, water or heat. Alternatively the sensor data may relate to other parameters as described above.

The information may, as described above, define a series of points in time.

In one situation, the controlling unit discards received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

In that or another situation, the controlling unit: receives sensor data from the data receiving part and controls the data receiving part to transmit an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector and discards the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

In that or another situation, the controlling unit: receives sensor data from the data receiving part and discards the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

A discarding may be the data forwarding element receiving but deleting the sensor data or the forwarding element not accepting or receiving the sensor data.

It may be preferred that the controlling unit: receives first sensor data from the data receiving part, performs a mathematical calculation on the first sensor data, and control the data outputting element to output, as the output data, a result of the mathematical calculation.

It may be preferred that the controlling unit receives the first sensor data from the data receiving part between two, such as neighbouring, points in time of the sequence of points in time.

As described above, the mathematical calculation may be used for identifying situations causing cause for an alarm or for anonymizing the data so that e.g. a timely evolution of a parameter, consumption or the like of the data can no longer be determined.

The invention also relates to a method of operating a data forwarding element as described above, the method comprising: the data receiving part receiving sensor data, such as from a sensor/detector/meter, the controlling unit:

• converting the sensor data to the output data in accordance with the received information, and data outputting element outputting the output data.

These steps may be as described above and as implemented by the means described further above. As described, the information may define a series of points in time.

It may be desired that the controlling unit discards received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

Additionally or alternatively, it may be preferred that: the controlling unit receives sensor data from the data receiving part, the data receiving part transmits an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector and the controlling unit discards the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

The acknowledgement often would be of a type which satisfies a meter, sensor or detector that the data output has been received. It may be preferred that the controlling unit: receives sensor data from the data receiving part and discards the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

It may be desired that: the controlling unit: receives first sensor data from the data receiving part, and performs a mathematical calculation on the first sensor data, and the data outputting element outputs, as the output data, a result of the mathematical calculation.

It may in this context be desired that the controlling unit receives the first sensor data from the data receiving part between two (often neighbouring) points in time of the sequence of points in time.

Brief description of the drawings

An overview of relevant elements of a system according to the invention is provided in figure 1 .

Description of the drawings

A system 1 is illustrated in figure 1 having a plurality of meters, sensors or detectors (in the following they will be denoted meters) 2, 3 and 4, which may be provided in the same house, apartment, space, room, building (in the following denoted apartment) or the like (hatched square). Data may be collected from multiple apartments or apartment buildings.

One or more data forwarders 5, 6 are used for collecting data from the meters and forward this data to a backend system, such as a data provider or collector 7 which may store the data in a database 8 for later retrieval. The data provider may relay some of this data to one or more clients 9, 10 which could alternatively receive the data directly from the data forwarders.

The communication between data forwarder and meter(s) may be of any desired type, such as M-bus, Z- wave, Zigbee, optical, Bluetooth, WiFi, infrared, RF signalling, LoRa, GSM, 4G, 5G, wireless or via wires. Different meters and meter brands may use different communication types and protocols. A data forwarder may be configured to communicate with a plurality of meters even using different protocols and communication types.

The communication between the data forwarder and the data provider may be of the same or another type, such as a communication over longer ranges utilizing both Internet communication, wireless communication or the like. The clients 9, 10 may access the data on a website, in a webapp or an app, such as on a PC or mobile device, such as a tablet or mobile telephone. Clearly, the communication between the data provider/forwarder and the client may be of any desired type, such as internet, 4G, 5G, Bluetooth or the like.

In typical situations, a client 9, 10 is an inhabitant, such as an owner or tenant, of the apartment in which the meter(s) may be positioned and/or from or for which meter data is received. Meters for determining data, such as consumption, for an apartment need not be provided in the actual apartment but may be positioned centrally in the building. This owner or tenant may be the owner of the data and may then specify a frequency, such as a maximum frequency, with which data from the meter(s) in the apartment in question may be collected by the data provider 7.

Information relating to the frequency with which data is desired, or particular points in time or desired dates, may be defined or even fed to the data forwarders.

In one example, only monthly values of e.g. a consumption of electricity are desired. Thus, all meter readings or data from intermediate points in time, such as daily values from days not at the end of the month, should be discarded.

Thus, the data forwarders 5, 6 are programmed or otherwise controlled to not forward data falling under the allowed data to be forwarded to data provider 7.

Some meters will output data with regular intervals. Other meters will output data when a predetermined event is seen, such as when a predetermined amount of a consumable, such as electrical power, heat, water, gas or the like, has been consumed or delivered.

Other types of meters may be requested by the data forwarder to output data.

In general, the meters will have the required components, such as a sensing component, a controller, a storage, transmitter/receiver and the like. Also, the data forwarders will have a controller, 51 , transmitter/receiver, storage and the like in order for it to perform the function of receiving/transmitting information to/from the meters and data provider as well as to perform the data handling described. The data provider will have the transmitter/receiver capabilities required for communicating with the data forwarders, the clients and the administrator and utilities and any other entity which is desired in this data loop.

Thus, the data forwarder may be configured to communicate with different meter types. During setting-up of the system, the data forwarder may be connected to these meters or programmed to communicate with or merely receive data from particular meters.

Some meters will require an acknowledgement of receipt of data output. If no such acknowledgement is received, the meters may attempt to feed the data via other channels, such as in a meshed configuration, to the data provider 7. In such situations, the data forwarders may output such acknowledgement even though the data is not to be forwarded.

Other meters will merely output the data and do not concern themselves with whether the data was received or not. If the meters output absolute values, such as a meter value increasing with a consumption of e.g. electricity or heat, the discarding of intermediate data is not a problem. The data to be forwarded may be a single value most recently received, or the next one received, from the meter when arriving at a point in time where data is desired forwarded.

If the meter requires an inquiry to output data, the data forwarder may forward such inquiry when arriving at or after a point in time where data is desired forwarded.

The discarding may be not receiving any data from a meter outputting values but not requiring an acknowledgement. If a connected meter requires acknowledgement, an acknowledgement may be output but any data received may not be stored or may not be forwarded to the data provider.

If the meters output relative values, such as a consumption having taken place since the last value, the data forwarder may sum such values and output the total value, when arriving at a point in time where data is desired forwarded. The sum may then be reset to start a new summing.

The data forwarder may be programmed to forward data from different meters with different frequencies. Data from some meters may be forwarded as soon as it is received, whereas a frequency may be defined for data from other meters.

For example, when people go to work or on vacation, they need not reduce the temperature in the apartment, so that the temperature in the apartment need not reflect an occupancy of the apartment. This data may then not be critical in that respect but may be important for controlling the building (see below).

The data provider will then be collecting data received and sensed at the desired frequency. The data provider will not have access to data obtained at a higher frequency, so that a client 9, 10 need not concern themselves with whether the data provider collects data with more content than agreed upon or as accepted.

The data provider may receive data also from other sources, such as external suppliers, such as utilities 11 . Such data may supplement or complement the data received from the meters. Utilities tend to log data with a low frequency and to make such data available with a large delay, such as more than 24 hours after determination of a value, so this data may not be suitable for controlling a building but will be acceptable for billing. Such data may also be used for error checking the data received from the meters as the utilities may receive data from the same meters along other communication channels.

As described, the data from the meters may fed to the clients 9, 10 but may also or alternatively be fed to an administrator 12 of the apartment or an apartment building for controlling the building and for detecting malfunctions or the like.

The data owner may decide that the administrator 12 is allowed to get more frequent data than the clients. Thus, the backend 7 may filter which data to forward to which recipient. Alternatively, the data forwarder may feed data from the same meter but with different frequencies to the backend 7, administrator 12 or client 9, 10, so as to ensure that no party has access to more frequent data than decided by the data owner. Data from the same meter but with different frequencies may be stored in the backend 7 such as in different areas or storages so that different recipients may have access to different data/area/storage. The data from the meters may be used for illustration of a consumption but may also or alternatively indicate whether ventilation of the apartment has broken down or is not functioning correct.

Alternatively, the temperature in the apartment may indicate whether a heating or heat station is working properly. The administrator may then swiftly realize that a problem has occurred and may then act thereon. Thus, it may be decided that the administrator should swiftly obtain such information.

Such information may be determined by analyzing the data output by one or more meters. This analysis may be performed in the data forwarder. Alternatively, some meters are able to themselves analyze data and output alarms, such as water leakage alarms from water meters. Then, it may be decided that some types of information may be fed from the meters via the data forwarder to the backend or other recipient when received by the data forwarder - such as such alarms.

When the data forwarder itself is able to analyze the data, it may decide that an alarm or other information is to be output to the backend or other receiver. This may be done without transmitting the underlying data which is restricted by a frequency.

It may be desired to add a data logger 13 between the sensors and data forwarding element. The data logger may be capable of storing the sensor data, analyze the data, derive alarms and handle the communication with the data forwarding element if desires.

The frequency of the data forwarding may be determined in a number of manners, potentially depending on a purpose thereof. If a utility or consumable is to be billed at a certain frequency, the data relating to that consumption should be read-out at that frequency. A lower frequency reading of that consumption might not be allowable. For some utilities, such as electrical power, legislation is seen requiring the billing on a monthly basis. Thus, the data forwarders communicating with meters for electrical consumption should be controlled to output at least one value each month.

The data forwarder may then be set to a frequency, such as each 30^th day or the last day of the month. The data forwarder may comprise a clock or even a calendar in order to be able to determine when to output data. Optionally, the data forwarder may receive time information from an external source such as the GSM network, the internet, a WiFi or the like and may react to a month number changing, a date being e.g. the first day (or any other day) of the month, the date exceeding 26, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the data forwarder may receive instructions from e.g. the data provider as to when to forward data. Then, the data provider may inform the data forwarder of which meters, meter types, consumption types, utility types, or the like, as not all meters may be desired read-out at the same points in time.

In one embodiment, the sensors and/or the data logger and/or the optional data logger may store the sensor data for later retrieval. Thus, in addition or alternative to the outputting of more seldom data from the data forwarding element, sensor data having been received or output from the meter after a predetermined period of time, which may be indicated by the information, may be output to the backend and thus the clients if desired. Thus, any analysis thereof may be performed in the backend and/or clients but on a delayed basis, so that any real-time information is not provided, yet the possibility of learning from the data at a later point in time is retained. Often, the frequency is set by the data provider, such as on request by the client but sometimes also based on the requirements of administrator in order for the controlling to be efficient. In some situations, the frequency may be set by the client, such as in its user interface, such as the app. In other situations, the client may set the frequency within an interval allowed by the administrator.

Embodiments:

1 . A data forwarding system comprising: a sensor, meter or detector capable of outputting sensor data, a data receiver configured to receive data, a data forwarding element comprising:

- a data receiving part configured to receive sensor data from the meter/detector/sensor,

- a data outputting element configured to output output data to the data receiver, and

- a controlling unit configured to:

- receive information relating to a frequency or periods of time or points in time of receiving and/or outputting data,

- convert the sensor data to the output data in accordance with the received information, and

- control the data outputting element to output the output data.

2. A system according to embodiment 1 , wherein the sensor, meter or detector is a meter determining consumption of electricity, gas, water or heat.

3. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the information defines a series of points in time.

4. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the controlling unit is configured to, in the converting step, discard received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

5. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the controlling unit is configured to: receive sensor data from the data receiving part and control the data receiving part to transmit an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector and discard the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information. 6. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the controlling unit is configured to: receive sensor data from the data receiving part and discard the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

7. A system according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the controlling unit is configured to: receive first sensor data from the data receiving part, perform a mathematical calculation on the first sensor data, and output, as the output data, a result of the mathematical calculation.

8. A system according to embodiment 3 and embodiment 7, wherein the controlling unit is configured to perform the mathematical calculation on first sensor data received or output between two points in time of the sequence of points in time.

9. A data forwarding element comprising: a data receiving part configured to receive sensor data from the meter/detector/sensor, a data outputting element configured to output output data to the data receiver, and a controlling unit configured to:

- control the data outputting element to output the output data.

10. A data forwarding element according to embodiment 8, wherein the information defines a series of points in time.

11. A data forwarding element according to any of embodiments 9 and 10, wherein the controlling unit is configured to, in the converting step, discard received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

12. A data forwarding element according to any of embodiments 9-11 , wherein the controlling unit is configured to: receive sensor data from the data receiving part and control the data receiving part to transmit an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector and discard the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information. 13. A data forwarding element according to any of embodiments 9-12, wherein the controlling unit is configured to: receive sensor data from the data receiving part and discard the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

14. A data forwarding element according to any of embodiments 8-13, wherein the controlling unit is configured to: receive first sensor data from the data receiving part, perform a mathematical calculation on the first sensor data, and output, as the output data, a result of the mathematical calculation.

15. A data forwarding element according to any of embodiments 10 and embodiment 14, wherein the controlling unit is configured to receive first sensor data from the data receiving part between two points in time of the sequence of points in time.

16. A method of operating a data forwarding system according to embodiment 1 , the method comprising the steps of: the sensor, meter or detector outputting sensor data, the data receiving part receiving the sensor data, the controlling unit:

- receiving information relating to a frequency or periods of time or points in time of receiving and/or outputting data, and

- converting the sensor data to output data in accordance with the received information, the data outputting element outputting the output data.

17. A method according to embodiment 17, wherein the sensor, meter or detector determines consumption of electricity, gas, water or heat.

18. A method according to any of embodiments 16 or 17, wherein the information defines a series of points in time.

19. A method according to any of embodiments 16-18, wherein the controlling unit discards received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

20. A method according to any of embodiments 16-19, wherein the controlling unit: receives sensor data from the data receiving part and controls the data receiving part to transmit an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector and discards the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

21. A method according to any of embodiments 16-20, wherein the controlling unit: receives sensor data from the data receiving part and discards the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

22. A method according to any of embodiments 16-21 , wherein the controlling unit: receives first sensor data from the data receiving part, performs a mathematical calculation on the first sensor data, and controls the data outputting element to output, as the output data, a result of the mathematical calculation.

23. A method according to embodiment 18 and embodiment 22, wherein the controlling unit receives the first sensor data from the data receiving part between two points in time of the sequence of points in time.

24. A method of operating a data forwarding element according to embodiment 16, the method comprising: the data receiving part receiving sensor data, the controlling unit:

- converting the sensor data to the output data in accordance with the received information, and data outputting element outputting the output data.

25. A method according to embodiment 24, wherein the information defines a series of points in time.

26. A method according to any of embodiments 24 and 25, wherein the controlling unit discards received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

27. A method according to any of embodiments 24-26, wherein: the controlling unit receives sensor data from the data receiving part, the data receiving part transmits an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector and the controlling unit discards the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

28. A method according to any of embodiments 24-27, wherein the controlling unit: receives sensor data from the data receiving part and - discards the received sensor data, if the received sensor data is not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

29. A method according to any of embodiments 24-28, wherein the controlling unit: receives first sensor data from the data receiving part, and performs a mathematical calculation on the first sensor data, and - the data outputting element outputs, as the output data, a result of the mathematical calculation.

30. A method according to embodiment 25 and embodiment 29, wherein the controlling unit receives the first sensor data from the data receiving part between two points in time of the sequence of points in time.

Claims

1. A data forwarding system comprising: a sensor, meter or detector capable of outputting sensor data, a data receiver configured to receive data, a data forwarding element comprising:

- a controlling unit configured to:

- control the data outputting element to output the output data., wherein the controlling unit is configured to, in the converting step, discard received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor, meter or detector is a meter determining consumption of electricity, gas, water or heat.

3. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the information defines a series of points in time.

4. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controlling unit is configured to receive sensor data from the data receiving part and control the data receiving part to transmit an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector.

5. A data forwarding element comprising: a data receiving part configured to receive sensor data from the meter/detector/sensor, a data outputting element configured to output output data to the data receiver, and a controlling unit configured to:

- receive information relating to a frequency or periods of time or points in time of receiving and/or outputting data, - convert the sensor data to the output data in accordance with the received information, and

- control the data outputting element to output the output data, wherein the controlling unit is configured to, in the converting step, discard received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

6. A data forwarding element according to claim 5, wherein the information defines a series of points in time.

7. A data forwarding element according to any of claims 5 or 6, wherein the controlling unit is configured to receive sensor data from the data receiving part and control the data receiving part to transmit an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector

8. A method of operating a data forwarding system according to claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of: the sensor, meter or detector outputting sensor data, the data receiving part receiving the sensor data, the controlling unit:

- converting the sensor data to output data in accordance with the received information, the data outputting element outputting the output data, wherein the controlling unit discards received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the sensor, meter or detector determines consumption of electricity, gas, water or heat.

10. A method according to any of claims 8 or 9, wherein the information defines a series of points in time.

11. A method according to any of claims 8-10, wherein the controlling unit receives sensor data from the data receiving part and controls the data receiving part to transmit an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector

12. A method of operating a data forwarding element according to claim 5, the method comprising: the data receiving part receiving sensor data, the controlling unit:

- receiving information relating to a frequency or periods of time or points in time of receiving and/or outputting data, and - converting the sensor data to the output data in accordance with the received information, and data outputting element outputting the output data,

Wherein the controlling unit discards received sensor data not received or obtained in accordance with the information.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the information defines a series of points in time.

14. A method according to any of claims 12 or 13, wherein: the controlling unit receives sensor data from the data receiving part, and the data receiving part transmits an acknowledgement to the sensor, meter or detector.