Systems And Methods Of Capturing Usage Data From An AMR Device
AssigneeInsight Energy Ventures, LLC
InventorsManuel Malagon, Matthew P. Tilchen
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Abstract
A method of capturing usage data of a usage area, which includes an automatic meter reading (AMR) device that broadcasts the usage data over a sequence of radio-frequency (RF) channels via a frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) signal. The method includes the steps of providing an RF receiver for the usage area, determining the sequence of RF channels, and receiving the usage data by tuning the RF receiver to an RF channel based on the sequence of RF channels. The sequence of RF channels includes an array of RF channels assigned to and ordered based on a channel position.
Claims25
A method of capturing usage data of a usage area comprising an automatic meter reading (AMR) device for broadcasting the usage data over a sequence of radio-frequency (RF) channels via a frequency-hopping spread spectrum signal, wherein the usage area is provided with an RF receiver comprising an antenna and an RF receiver circuit comprising a tuner and a processor, the method comprising steps of:
- determining, with the processor of the RF receiver circuit, the sequence of RF channels with the RF receiver, wherein each RF channel of the sequence of RF channels comprises a frequency assigned to a channel position, the RF channels being sequenced based on the channel position;
- and
- receiving, with the antenna, the usage data by tuning the RF receiver, with the tuner of the RF receiver circuit, to a frequency based on the sequence of RF channels.
A system for capturing usage data of a usage area, wherein the usage area comprises an automatic meter reading (AMR) device configured to broadcast the usage data over a sequence of radio-frequency (RF) channels via a frequency-hopping spread spectrum signal, the system comprising:
- an RF receiver comprising:
- an antenna configured to receive the usage data from the AMR device;
- an RF receiver circuit coupled to the antenna, the RF receiver circuit comprising:
- a tuner configured to tune the antenna;
- and
- a processor configured to determine the sequence of RF channels;
- and
- a gateway device coupled to the RF receiver and configured to transmit the usage data to a user computing device.
An RF receiver for capturing usage data of a usage area, wherein the usage area comprises an automatic meter reading (AMR) device configured to broadcast the usage data over a sequence of radio-frequency (RF) channels via a frequency-hopping spread spectrum signal, the RF receiver comprising:
- an antenna configured to receive the usage data from the AMR device;
- and
- an RF receiver circuit coupled to the antenna, the RF receiver circuit comprising:
- a tuner configured to tune the antenna;
- and
- a processor configured to determine the sequence of RF channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.