Data communication protocol in an automatic meter reading system
AssigneeItron, Inc.
InventorsChristopher L. Osterloh, Christopher Nagy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automatic meter reading (AMR) system includes a fixed or mobile reader and an endpoint interfaced to a utility meter. The fixed or mobile reader is capable of communicating with the endpoint via RF communication. The fixed or mobile reader sends a message to the endpoint that includes a response mode direction which directs the endpoint to respond to the reader via either a mobile network mode or a fixed network mode. The AMR system allows implementation of, and migration between, one-way, one-and-a-half-way, and two-way communications system modes without requiring reprogramming, reconfiguring the metering endpoints or going through a reconfiguration cycle before effecting a communication
Claims20
In a system for automatic meter reading (AMR) of utility meters, a method for operating an endpoint to respond to wireless radio-frequency (RF) communications signals from a fixed or mobile reader, the RF communication signals including a preliminary portion and a command portion following the preliminary portion, the method comprising:
- listening for an incoming RF communication signal in which the preliminary portion is indicative of a start of the command portion and includes one of a predefined first sequence and a predefined second sequence;
- and
- detecting a presence of the first sequence or the second sequence in the preliminary portion of the RF communication signal;
- responding to a detection of the first or the second sequence wherein:
- responding to a detection of the first sequence includes processing the command portion of the RF communication signal;
- and
- responding to a detection of the second sequence includes transmitting a first set of data via the AMR system without necessarily processing the command portion.
A utility meter endpoint, comprising:
- a central processing unit (CPU);
- a utility meter interface adapted to acquire utility meter information for the CPU from a utility meter;
- a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver interfaced with the CPU and adapted to receive and transmit wireless radio-communications via an AMR system;
- wherein the endpoint is configured to:
- operate in a receiving mode that is receptive to incoming radio frequency (RF) communications signals from the AMR system that include a preliminary portion and a command portion following the preliminary portion, the preliminary portion being indicative of an AMR system to which the endpoint is responsive;
- detect a preliminary portion of an incoming communication signal, the preliminary portion including one of a known first sequence and a known second sequence;
- and
- determine, based on the preliminary portion, whether to respond to the incoming communication signal, wherein:
- responding to a presence of the first sequence includes at least operating in a receiving mode that is receptive to the command portion;
- and
- responding to a presence of the second sequence includes at least operating in a transmit mode to send a first set of data via the AMR system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.