Remote access to electronic meters using the short message service
AssigneeElster Electricity, LLC
InventorsSasan H. Ardalan, David E. Van Den Bout, Arnold W. Bragg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic meter reading (AMR) system collects readings from multiple or individual meters or sets parameters in individual or multiple meters using the Short Message Service (SMS) in digital cellular networks. The individual meters incorporate interfaces to the SMS network so that parameters within the meter can be read and written to/from external devices that also interface to the SMS network. Communications gateways incorporate a single interface to the SMS network, which a set of non-SMS-enabled meters can access via a local area network (LAN).
Claims20
A system for use in combination with a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a digital cellular network (DCN) providing a short message service (SMS), comprising an automatic meter reading (AMR) network operatively coupled to said DCN by said PSTN, wherein said AMR network comprises a plurality of meters and an AMR node, said meters being in communication with said node, and an AMR server operatively coupled to the PSTN, whereby said meters are permitted to send and receive message packets to/from the AMR server via the SMS.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.