Satellite-based low power resource meter reading systems and methods
First Claim
1. A utility monitoring device, the device comprising:
- a utility resource meter interface,a satellite communication module,a controller communicatively connected to the utility resource meter interface and the satellite communication module, the controller including a low power state and an operational state and configured to execute computer-readable instructions to;
at a predetermined time, automatically enter the operational state from the low power state;
interrogate an associated utility resource meter to obtain a reading; and
communicate the reading to a remote computing system via a direct, bidirectional data connection between the satellite communication module and a predetermined satellite based on a persistent satellite connection preference to the predetermined satellite, the predetermined satellite comprising a geostationary satellite; and
return to the low power state;
wherein the persistent satellite connection preference avoids requiring a renegotiation process of identifying a best fit satellite providing a best signal-to-noise ratio and instead retains the direct, bidirectional data connection between the satellite communication module and the predetermined satellite of a satellite communications network after automatically entering the operational state and prior to communicating the reading.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring a utility resource are disclosed. One system includes a plurality of utility resource usage capture components connected to a utility resource management computing system via a satellite communications network. Each of the utility resource usage capture components includes a utility resource meter interface and a satellite communication module. The utility resource meter interface is configured to communicate with a plurality of different types of utility resource meters from a plurality of different manufacturers. Each of the plurality of utility resource usage capture components has a low power state and an operational state and configured to automatically enter the operational state, interrogate an associated utility resource meter to obtain a reading and communicate the reading via the satellite communication module, and return to the low power state. The utility resource management computing system stores information regarding a location of each of the utility resource usage capture components and is configured to receive and store readings from each of the plurality of utility resource usage capture components.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A utility monitoring device, the device comprising:
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a utility resource meter interface, a satellite communication module, a controller communicatively connected to the utility resource meter interface and the satellite communication module, the controller including a low power state and an operational state and configured to execute computer-readable instructions to; at a predetermined time, automatically enter the operational state from the low power state; interrogate an associated utility resource meter to obtain a reading; and communicate the reading to a remote computing system via a direct, bidirectional data connection between the satellite communication module and a predetermined satellite based on a persistent satellite connection preference to the predetermined satellite, the predetermined satellite comprising a geostationary satellite; and return to the low power state; wherein the persistent satellite connection preference avoids requiring a renegotiation process of identifying a best fit satellite providing a best signal-to-noise ratio and instead retains the direct, bidirectional data connection between the satellite communication module and the predetermined satellite of a satellite communications network after automatically entering the operational state and prior to communicating the reading. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A water monitoring system comprising:
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a water usage monitoring device communicatively connected to a water meter the water monitoring device including; a water meter interface, a satellite communication module, a controller communicatively connected to the water meter interface and the satellite communication module, the controller including a low power state and an operational state and configured to execute computer-readable instructions to; at a predetermined time, automatically enter the operational state from the low power state; interrogate an associated water meter to obtain a reading; and communicate the reading to a remote computing system via a direct, bidirectional data connection between the satellite communication module and a predetermined satellite based on a persistent satellite connection preference, the predetermined satellite comprising a geostationary satellite; and return to the low power state; wherein the persistent satellite connection preference avoids requiring a renegotiation process of identifying a best fit satellite providing a best signal-to-noise ratio and instead retains the direct, bidirectional data connection between the satellite communication module and a the predetermined satellite of a satellite communications network after automatically entering the operational state and prior to communicating the reading. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of monitoring usage of a utility resource, the method comprising:
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activating a utility monitoring device from a low power state to an operational power state; interrogating one associated utility resource meter to obtain a reading; receiving a reading from the one associated utility resource meter; and communicating the reading via a direct, bidirectional data connection between a satellite communication module and a predetermined satellite based on a persistent satellite connection preference, the predetermined satellite comprising a geostationary satellite; and returning the utility monitoring device from the operational power state to the low power state; wherein the persistent satellite connection preference avoids requiring a renegotiation process of identifying a best fit satellite providing a best signal-to-noise ratio and instead retains the direct, bidirectional data connection between the utility monitoring device and the predetermined satellite of a satellite communications network after automatically entering the operational state and prior to communicating the reading. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification