# US 12,215,831 B2 · Systems and methods for reporting pipeline pressures

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- Number: US 12,215,831 B2
- Document ID: US12215831B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/059,374
- Filed: 2022-11-28
- Published: 2023-03-23
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-04
- Assignees: Aclara Technologies LLC
- Applicants: Aclara Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Peggy Devereaux; Vaishali Sangtani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215831B2

## CPC

- F17D 3/01: for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product
- G01L 19/08: Means for indicating or recording, e.g. for remote indication
- G01L 19/086: {for remote indication}
- Y04S 20/30: Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
- F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

An optimized, energy-sensitive system and method for fulfilling various data needs of gas utilities. In particular, the disclosure relates to optimized methods for discovering and reacting to an alarm. In one aspect, when an alarm is triggered a telemetry unit automatically alters its operating mode to begin transmitting live pressure reads every minute instead of every hour, as typically performed. This variance in operation eliminates the need for a user to monitor a pipeline system for an incoming alarm and manually request data by initiating a live communication session.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for reporting utility data comprising:
one or more sensor devices configured to generate sensor data associated with one or more parameters associated with a utility system; and
a telemetry device including at least one transceiver and in communication with the one or more sensor devices and configured to transmit sensor data received from the one or more sensor device at a first interval, wherein the sensor data is received and recorded at the telemetry device between transmissions;
wherein the telemetry device is further configured to request real time or near real time sensor data from the sensor device in response to receiving an alarm signal from at least one of the one or more sensor devices; and
wherein the telemetry device transmits the real time or near real time sensor data at a second interval and simultaneously transmits the recorded sensor data at the first interval, wherein the second interval is shorter than the first interval.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an alarm signal is generated in response to data sensed by the one or more sensor devices exceeding a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the telemetry device transmits the recorded sensor data at the first interval and the real time or near real time data at the second interval simultaneously in response to the real time or near real time data exceeding the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the telemetry device transmits the recorded sensor data to a data collection unit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein telemetry device stops transmitting the real time or near real time data in response to the telemetry unit device receiving an alarm clear signal from the at least one sensor devices.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the telemetry device is configured to stop transmitting the real time or near real time data after a predetermined time period.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the data transmitted by the telemetry device at the second interval is different than standard data sent at the first interval.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second interval is variable based on a user setting.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein sensor data includes one or more of temperature, water level, waste level, flow rates, and pressure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein transmission of the real time or near real time data at the second interval is initiated by a user.

### Claim 11

A method for reporting utility data by a telemetry device comprising:
operating in a first mode, wherein operating in the first mode comprises:
waking from a sleep mode at predetermined intervals,
reading pre-recorded data from one or more sensor devices,
transmitting the pre-recorded data at a first transmission interval, and
returning to the sleep mode,
operating in a second mode in response to receiving an alarm signal from the one or more sensor devices, wherein operating in the second mode comprises:
requesting real time or near real time trend data from the one or more sensor devices,
transmitting the requested real time or near real time trend data at a second transmission interval and simultaneously transmitting the pre-recorded data at the first interval, wherein the second transmission interval is shorter than the first transmission interval,
determining whether the alarm signal has been terminated; and
resuming operation in the first mode in response to determining that the alarm signal has been terminated.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more sensor devices generate the alarm signal in response to the pre-recorded data exceeding a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the sensed data includes one or more of temperature, water level, waste level, flow rate, and pressure.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting the requested read time or near real time data at the second transmission interval further comprises transmitting multiple data sets.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the second transmission interval is a variable transmission interval.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting the trend data to a data collection device at a trend interval comprises transmitting real-time or near real time trend data and one or more past trend data sets.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising operating in the second mode in response to an input by a user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more sensor devices are configured to monitor at least a portion of a utility distribution or transportation network.

### Claim 19

A telemetry device in communication with one or more sensor devices configured to monitor one or more aspects of a utility distribution network, comprising:
a communication interface; and
a controller including one or more electronic processors, wherein the electronic processors are configured to:
operate in a first mode, wherein operating in the first mode includes:
waking from a sleep state at predetermined intervals,
receiving pre-recorded data from one or more sensor devices,
transmitting the received pre-recorded data at a first transmission interval, and
returning to the sleep state,
receive an alarm signal from the one or more sensor devices; and
operate in a second mode in response to receiving the alarm signal, wherein operating in the second mode includes;
requesting real time or near real time trend data from the one or more sensor devices,
receiving real time or near real time trend data from the one or more sensor devices, and
transmitting the requested real time or near real time trend data at a second transmission interval and simultaneously transmitting the pre-recorded data at the first interval, wherein the second transmission interval is shorter than the first transmission interval.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The telemetry device of claim 19, wherein operating in the second mode further includes:
determining whether the alarm signal has been terminated; and
resuming operation in the first mode in response to determining that the alarm signal has been terminated.
