One way automatic meter reading system

• US 20030020632A1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenure Development Limited
• Original Assignee: Kenure Development Limited
• Inventors: Giles, Terence George, Steele, Kenny
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• 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 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A meter interface unit for use in a one way automatic meter reading system comprises first means for frequently transmitting a short burst transmission suitable for reception by a hand held or mobile receiver, and second means for transmitting narrow band data messages suitable for reception by a fixed network first tier receiving station. The receiver at the first tier receiving station has means for suppressing the short transmissions to prevent interference with the slow busts from the second transmitting means. Repeated packet collisions between the short bursts are avoided by randomly varying the time period between the short bursts.

Claims

1. A meter interface unit for use in a one way automatic meter reading system comprising first means for frequently transmitting a short burst transmission suitable for reception by a hand held or mobile receiver, and second means for transmitting narrow band data messages suitable for reception by a fixed network first tier receiving station.

2. A meter interface unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second transmitting means operate on the same radio channel.

3. A meter interface unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first means is adapted to vary the time period between each successive short burst transmission.

4. A meter interface unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the time period is T+n×

t where T is a base time period t is the duration of a short burst transmission and n is a random number.

5. A receiver for use in a fixed network first tier receiving station for receiving signals transmitted by the second transmitting means of a meter interface unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising means for detecting the presence of a short burst transmission and suppressing it before the received signal passes through a narrow band filter.

6. A receiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein a high-speed detector controls a monostable which opens to prevent a short burst transmission reaching a second IF stage of the receiver.

7. A receiver as claimed in claim 5, wherein the suppression is implemented by digital signal processing means.