摘要 |
<p>A metering data preservation and storage methodology, including steps for protecting data during periods in which power is lost to the meter, is provided. In particular, a methodology for using nonvolatile flash memory structures is used in association with various volatile memory structures for the storage and preservation of metering data acquired from a solid-state utility meter. The methodology includes the use of the volatile memory structures for the temporary storage (146) and alteration (148) of the measured and calculated metering data so as to avoid an effective reduction in the lifespan of the non-volatile memory structure which can only be written, erased and rewritten to a finite number of times. Further, such usage reduces costs associated with the maintenance and incorporation of such memory types in the meter. The methodology further includes the use of the non-volatile flash memory (126) as a permanent storage medium for the acquired metering data during power loss (124) to the meter.</p> |