Method and system for airborne meter communication
First Claim
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1. An airborne meter communication system comprising:
- an airborne platform movable through a flight path and including a first radio frequency transceiver adapted to transmit a meter interrogation signal at a predetermined waypoint along the flight path; and
a ground based utility meter including a second radio frequency transceiver adapted to transmit meter data in response to receipt of the meter interrogation signal, wherein the airborne platform is adapted to receive the data and to transmit the meter data to a ground station.
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Abstract
An airborne meter communication system includes an airborne platform that communicates with ground based utility meters using radio frequencies. The airborne platform retransmits information received from the meters to a network operations center for further processing.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An airborne meter communication system comprising:
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an airborne platform movable through a flight path and including a first radio frequency transceiver adapted to transmit a meter interrogation signal at a predetermined waypoint along the flight path; and
a ground based utility meter including a second radio frequency transceiver adapted to transmit meter data in response to receipt of the meter interrogation signal, wherein the airborne platform is adapted to receive the data and to transmit the meter data to a ground station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for airborne meter communication, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a meter interrogation signal from an airborne platform;
receiving the meter interrogation signal from the airborne platform in a ground based utility meter;
transmitting data from the ground based utility meter in response to receiving the meter interrogation signal;
receiving the data in the airborne platform; and
transmitting the data from the airborne platform. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A method for airborne meter communication, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting one of a meter connect command and a disconnect command from an airborne platform;
receiving one of a meter connect command and a disconnect command from the airborne platform in a ground based utility meter; and
one of connecting service in response to the connect command and disconnecting service in response to the disconnect command.
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32. A method for airborne meter communication comprising the steps of:
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determining a flight path for an airborne platform based upon the location of at least one ground based utility meter;
flying said flight path with the airborne platform while simultaneously;
transmitting a signal from the airborne platform to the at least one ground based utility meter transceiver; and
receiving the signal from the airborne platform in the ground based utility meter transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification