Selection and use of different wireless networks by meter reading devices
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a meter interface device communicatively coupled to a utility meter, a trigger input;
attempting, by the meter interface device in response to said receiving the trigger input, to establish a first communication link with a mobile transceiver of a first network;
attempting, by the meter interface device subsequent to the attempting to establish the first communication link, to establish a second communication link with a second wireless network, wherein the second wireless network is a third party wireless network;
attaching, by the meter interface device in response to successfully establishing the second communication link, to the third party wireless network;
waiting, by the meter interface device in response to unsuccessfully establishing the second communication link, a back-off time period before re-attempting to establish the second communication link; and
transmitting, by the meter interface device while operating in a simultaneous mode, first data to the mobile transceiver of the first network and second data to the second wireless network, wherein the transmitting includes interleaving the first data and the second data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which a meter interface device may attempt to join a third party wireless network, in addition to a mobile transceiver network, in response to a power-up procedure or a reset procedure. Additionally, the meter interface device may simultaneously operate in multiple modes of communications. The meter interface device may select the third party wireless network based on preference information and back-off information. The meter interface device may wait a back-off period, after an unsuccessful attempt to join the third party wireless network, before re-attempting to join the third party wireless network. The meter interface device may also attach to one or multiple other networks including a fixed network.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a meter interface device communicatively coupled to a utility meter, a trigger input; attempting, by the meter interface device in response to said receiving the trigger input, to establish a first communication link with a mobile transceiver of a first network; attempting, by the meter interface device subsequent to the attempting to establish the first communication link, to establish a second communication link with a second wireless network, wherein the second wireless network is a third party wireless network; attaching, by the meter interface device in response to successfully establishing the second communication link, to the third party wireless network; waiting, by the meter interface device in response to unsuccessfully establishing the second communication link, a back-off time period before re-attempting to establish the second communication link; and transmitting, by the meter interface device while operating in a simultaneous mode, first data to the mobile transceiver of the first network and second data to the second wireless network, wherein the transmitting includes interleaving the first data and the second data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A meter interface device of a utility meter comprising:
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a wireless communication interface; a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions; and a processor, wherein the processor executes the instructions to; receive a trigger input; attempt, in response to the receipt of the trigger input, to establish, via the wireless communication interface, a first communication link with a mobile transceiver of a first network; attempt, subsequent to the attempt to establish the first communication link, to establish, via the wireless communication interface, a second communication link with a second wireless network, wherein the second wireless network is a third party wireless network; attach, in response to a successful establishment of the second communication link, to the third party wireless network; wait, in response to an unsuccessful establishment of the second communication link, a back-off time period before re-attempting to establish the second communication link; and transmit, via the wireless communication interface while operating in a simultaneous mode, first data to the mobile transceiver of the first network and second data to the second wireless network, wherein the transmitting includes interleaving the transmitting of the first data and the second data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a meter interface device of a utility meter, which when executed cause the meter interface device to:
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receive a trigger input; attempt, in response to the receipt of the trigger input, to establish, via a wireless communication interface of the meter interface device, a first communication link with a mobile transceiver of a first network; attempt, subsequent to the attempt to establish the first communication link, to establish, via the wireless communication interface, a second communication link with a second wireless network, wherein the second wireless network is a third party wireless network; attach, in response to a successful establishment of the second communication link, to the third party wireless network; wait, in response to an unsuccessful establishment of the second communication link, a back-off time period before re-attempting to establish the second communication link; transmit, while operating in a simultaneous mode, first data to the mobile transceiver of the first network and second data to the second wireless network, wherein the transmitting includes interleaving the transmitting of the first data and the second data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification