Two-way wide area telemetry

• US 20030016142A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 01/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BS&B Safety Systems LLC (International Systems & Controls Corp.)
• Original Assignee: BS&B Safety Systems LLC (International Systems & Controls Corp.)
• Inventors: Bragg, Steven D., Holmes, John K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,061,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/02 Automatically-operated arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for two-way telemetry is provided. For one embodiment, a telemetry interface module may receive data regarding the strength of transmitted signals. The telemetry interface module may transmit a query message to another telemetry interface module and receive a reply message containing received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the query message as received by the other telemetry interface module. For one embodiment, a telemetry interface module may adjust a transmission power level. For one embodiment, a telemetry interface module may select between a plurality of antennae for reception and transmission.

Claims

1. A method for two-way telemetry comprising:

transmitting a first query message from a first telemetry interface module to a second telemetry interface module; and

receiving a first reply message by the first telemetry interface module containing first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the first query message, as received by the second telemetry interface module.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

setting a transmission power level of the first telemetry interface module to a first power level prior to transmitting the first query message;

setting the transmission power level of the first telemetry interface module to a second power level; and

transmitting a second query message from the first telemetry interface module to the second telemetry interface module.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising:

receiving a second reply message by the first telemetry interface module containing second received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the second query message, as received by the second telemetry interface module; and

comparing the second received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data to the first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising selecting a first antenna, from a plurality of antennae at the first telemetry interface module, prior to transmitting the first query message.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising:

selecting a second antenna from the plurality of antennae after receiving the first reply message;

transmitting a second query message from the first telemetry interface module to the second telemetry interface module;

receiving a second reply message by the first telemetry interface module containing second received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the second query message, as received by the second telemetry interface module; and

comparing the second received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data to the first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data.

6. A method for adjusting power in a telemetry interface module comprising:

transmitting a first query message at a first transmission power level to a second telemetry interface module;

listening for a reply message from the second telemetry interface module in response to the first query message;

transmitting a second query message at a second transmission power level to the second telemetry interface module; and

listening for a reply message from the second telemetry interface module in response to the second query message.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

receiving a reply message in response to the second query message but not the first query message; and

maintaining the second transmission power level or a higher transmission power level for future transmissions.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising selecting an antenna from a plurality of antennae at the first telemetry interface module.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a query message from a telemetry interface module;

measuring received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the query message, as received;

generating a reply message containing the measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data; and

transmitting the reply message to the telemetry interface module.

10. A telemetry interface module comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a processor coupled with the receiver and transmitter; and

a memory coupled with the processor, having stored therein a set of instructions to transmit a first query message to another telemetry interface module and receive a first reply message containing first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the first query message, as received by the other telemetry interface module.

11. The telemetry interface module of claim 10, wherein the set of instructions comprises instructions to set a transmission power level of the transmitter to a first power level prior to transmitting the first query message, set the transmission power level of the transmitter to a second power level, and transmit a second query message to the other telemetry interface module.

12. The telemetry interface module of claim 11, wherein the set of instructions comprises instructions to receive a second reply message containing second received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the second query message, as received by the other telemetry interface module, and compare the second received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data to the first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data.

13. The telemetry interface module of claim 10, comprising a plurality of antennae.

14. The telemetry interface module of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennae are embedded in a printed circuit (PC) board.

17. The telemetry interface module of claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennae are embedded in a printed circuit (PC) board.

18. The telemetry interface module of claim 16, comprising a switch coupled with the processor and the plurality of antenna.

19. The telemetry interface module of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions comprises instructions to select a first antenna from the plurality of antennae, transmit a first query message, and receive a first reply message.

20. The telemetry interface module of claim 19, wherein the set of instructions comprises instructions to select a second antenna from the plurality of antennae, and transmit a second query message.

21. The telemetry interface module of claim 19, wherein the set of instructions comprises instructions to receive a query message from another telemetry interface module, measure received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the query message, as received, generate a reply message containing the measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data, and transmit the reply message to the other telemetry interface module.

15. A telemetry interface module comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a processor coupled with the receiver and transmitter; and

a memory coupled with the processor, having stored therein a set of instructions to receive a query message from another telemetry interface module, measure received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the query message, as received, generate a reply message containing the measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data, and transmit the reply message to the other telemetry interface module.

16. A telemetry interface module comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a plurality of antennae coupled with the receiver antennae;

a processor coupled with the receiver and transmitter; and

a memory coupled with the processor, having stored therein a set of instructions to receive and transmit messages.

22. A telemetry interface module comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a wired interface circuit;

a processor coupled with the receiver, transmitter, and wired interface circuit; and

a memory coupled with the processor, having stored therein a set of instructions to receive messages with the receiver, transmit messages with the transmitter, and communicate to an external device through the wired interface.

23. A system comprising:

a plurality of telemetry interface modules, each comprising a receiver, a transmitter, a processor coupled with the receiver and transmitter, and a memory coupled with the processor, having stored therein a set of instructions to transmit a first query message to a data interface module and receive a first reply message containing first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the first query message, as received by the data interface module; and

a data interface module in communication with the plurality of telemetry interface modules, the data interface module comprising a receiver, a transmitter, a processor coupled with the receiver and transmitter, and a memory coupled with the processor, having stored therein a set of instructions to receive a query message from a telemetry interface module, measure received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data for the query message, as received, generate a reply message containing the measured received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data, and transmit the reply message to the telemetry interface module.