System and method for automatic meter reading with mobile configuration

A demand reset system for an automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising:

• at least one transceiver, wherein the at least one transceiver includes a geo-coded location information database of plurality of endpoint devices;
• wherein each of the plurality of endpoint devices comprises a radio frequency (RF) communication device operably connected to a utility meter and adapted to communicate via RF with the at least one transceiver;
• wherein the database includes geo-coded locations of a subset of the plurality of endpoint devices, wherein the subset supports a demand reset,
• wherein the at least one transceiver is adapted to request a read and demand data from a first endpoint device in the subset of the plurality of endpoint devices in a first communication when the transceiver determines that it is in communications range of the first endpoint device in the subset of the plurality of endpoint devices, to receive a read and demand data from the first endpoint device in a second communication, and to send an acknowledgement to the first endpoint device in a third communication,
• and wherein the first endpoint device is adapted to reset the demand data and send an acknowledgement to the at least one transceiver in a fourth communication.

A demand reset system for an automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising:

• at least one transceiver;
• and
• a plurality of endpoint devices, wherein each of the plurality of endpoint devices comprises a radio frequency (RF) communications device operably connected to a utility meter and adapted to communicate via RF with at least one transceiver, wherein a subset of the plurality of endpoint devices supports demand reset, and wherein each of the subset of the plurality of endpoint devices further comprises a timer having a maximum duration defining a current cycle;
• wherein the at least one transceiver is adapted to request a read and demand data from a first endpoint device in the subset of the plurality of endpoint devices in a first communication, and
• wherein the first endpoint device is adapted to send current demand data to the at least one reader in a second communication, start the timer, save the current demand data to an archive register, and reset the current demand data.

A method for resetting demand data in a plurality of utility meters, wherein at least one transceiver and a plurality of endpoint devices are adapted to exchange two-way wireless communications, and wherein each of the plurality of endpoint devices comprises a radio frequency (RF) communications device operably connected to a utility meter, the method comprising the steps of:

• requesting demand data from at least one endpoint device by the transceiver;
• receiving demand data from the at least one endpoint device;
• requesting a demand reset from the endpoint device by the transceiver;
• receiving a demand reset acknowledgement by the transceiver from the endpoint device:
• determining whether the endpoint device supports demand reset;
• if the endpoint device supports demand reset, requesting demand data from the endpoint device by the transceiver;
• and
• receiving a demand data reset confirmation by the reader from the endpoint device.

A method of remotely configuring at least one utility measurement device of an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, the utility measurement device including a radio frequency (RF) device adapted to exchange wireless communications with at least one transceiver, the method comprising:

• transmitting a confirmation command to the RF device of the utility device;
• downloading the historical data from the storage register upon receiving a configuration command from a mobile collector;
• and
• configuring the RF device with a special algorithm adapted to provide a back up capability to the utility device such that historical data is temporarily stored in a storage register for a pre-defined time upon receipt of the configuration command.