Meter Data Collection

A collection device comprising one or more receivers configured to receive respective data from each of a plurality of metering devices, the collection device further comprising a processor, memory, and computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor of the collection device, cause the collection device to perform operations comprising:

• assigning a first frequency channel and a first time interval to a first metering device of the plurality of metering devices;
• assigning a second frequency channel and a second time interval to a second metering device of the plurality of metering devices;
• encoding, into a signal having a carrier frequency, a first address associated with the first metering device, and a second address associated with the second metering device;
• sending the signal to the first metering device and the second metering device, such that each of the first metering device and the second metering device wake up from a low powered state when a measured signal strength of the signal is greater than a predetermined threshold, and when the first and second address match wake-up addresses of the first and second metering devices, respectively;
• sending a request message to the first metering device and the second metering device, the request message indicating the first frequency channel, the first time interval, the second frequency channel, and the second frequency channel;
• receiving the respective data from the first metering device, wherein the data associated with the first metering device is received during the first time interval and at the first frequency channel;
• and
• in response to the request message, receiving the respective data from the second metering device, wherein the data associated with the second metering device is received during the second time interval and at the second frequency channel.

In a system comprising a collection device and a plurality of metering devices, a method for interrogating each of the plurality of metering devices for respective data, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a first metering device of the plurality of metering devices, a signal having a carrier frequency;
• determining, by the first metering device, whether the received signal is a valid wake-up tone based at least on whether a measured signal strength of the received signal is greater than a predetermined threshold and whether an address encoded within the received signal matches a wake-up address of the first metering device;
• assigning, by the collection device, a first frequency channel and a first time interval to the first metering device;
• sending, by the collection device, a request message to the first metering, the request message indicating the first frequency channel and the first time interval;
• if the address encoded within the received signal matches the wake-up address receiving, by the first metering device, the request message;
• determining, based on the request message, the first time interval in which to respond to the request message, and the first frequency channel;
• and
• receiving, by the collection device, the respective data from the first metering device, wherein the data associated with the first metering device is received during the first time interval and at the first frequency channel.