UTILITY METER INTERFACE SYSTEM

• US 20030128134A1
• Filed: 03/08/1999
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comverge Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: FIERRO, ROBERT A., KUNDLA, GREGORY P., PASQUARELLI, RONALD J., BURNS, MARTIN J., SOBCZAK, LAURIE M., GUYRE, MICHAEL A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,747,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• 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 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for facilitating data exchange between a utility meter and a host device includes a first wireless interface device coupled to the meter via a first hardwired connection and a second wireless interface device coupled to the host device via a second hardwired connection. The first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device are operative to wirelessly exchange data therebetween. According to one embodiment, gateway software is provided within the first wireless interface device to allow the first wireless interface device to initiate on behalf of the host computer a request for the meter to provide predetermined information, acknowledge on behalf of the host computer receipt of data containing the predetermined information, purge data containing the predetermined information of information unrelated to the predetermined information and encrypting and decrypting packets exchanged between the meter and host computer.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating data exchange between a utility meter for monitoring utility consumption and a host device, wherein the meter is coupled to a first wireless interface device via a first hardwired connection and the host device is coupled to a second wireless interface device via a second hardwired connection and the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device are operative to wirelessly exchange data therebetween, the method including the steps of:

initiating a request for the meter to provide predetermined information, the request originating from a device coupled to the first hardwired connection; and

transmitting from the meter data containing the predetermined information in response to the request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device originating the request is the first wireless interface device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first wireless interface device is a CDPD modem.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device originating the request is a dedicated device operating independent of the first wireless interface device.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

receiving at the device the data containing the predetermined information; and

removing from the data at least a portion of information unrelated to the predetermined information, thereby providing processed data.

6. The method of claim 5, further including the step of encrypting the processed data prior to wireless transfer to the host device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting from the first wireless interface device to the second wireless interface device the processed data;

forwarding the processed data from the second wireless interface device to the host device; and

decrypting the processed data by the host device.

8. The method of claim 7, further including the steps of:

transmitting by the host device a host acknowledgment packet destined for the meter;

receiving the host acknowledgment packet at the device prior to reaching the meter; and

preventing the host acknowledgment packet from being received by the meter.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

receiving at the device the data containing the predetermined information; and

transmitting from the first device to the meter a packet acknowledging receipt of the data containing the predetermined information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the meter is one of an electric meter, a gas meter, and a water meter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first hardwired connection is an RS-232 hardwired connection.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second hardwired connection is at least in part an internet connection.

13. A method of facilitating data exchange between a utility meter for monitoring utility consumption and a host device, wherein the meter is coupled to a first wireless interface device through a first hardwired connection and the host device is coupled to a second wireless interface device through a second hardwired connection and the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device are operative to wirelessly exchange data therebetween, the method including the steps of:

receiving at a device coupled to the first hardwired connection data transmitted from the meter and destined for the host computer; and

transmitting an acknowledgment packet to the meter by the device, the acknowledgment packet indicating to the meter that the data was received by the host computer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the device originating the request is the first wireless interface device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first wireless interface device and second wireless interface device are configured to wirelessly exchange data across a cellular digital packet data network.

16. A method of facilitating data exchange between a utility meter for monitoring utility consumption and a host device, wherein the meter is coupled to a first wireless interface device through a first hardwired connection and the host device is coupled to a second wireless interface device through a second hardwired connection and the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device are operative to wirelessly exchange data therebetween, the method including the steps of:

receiving at a device coupled to the first hardwired connection data transmitted from the meter and destined for the host computer; and

processing the data received by the device to remove at least a portion of information stored in the data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the device originating the request is the first wireless interface device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first wireless interface device and second wireless interface device are configured to wirelessly exchange data across a cellular digital packet data network.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the data transmitted by the meter is in response to a packet sent to the meter requesting the meter to provide predetermined information and the at least a portion of information removed from the data during the step of processing is information unrelated to the predetermined information.

20. A method of facilitating data exchange between a utility meter for monitoring utility consumption and a host device, wherein the meter is coupled to a first wireless interface device through a first hardwired connection and the host device is coupled to a second wireless interface device through a second hardwired connection and the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device are operative to wirelessly exchange data therebetween, the method including the steps of:

receiving at a device coupled to the first hardwired connection data transmitted from the meter and destined for the host computer;

encrypting at least a portion of the data by the device;

transmitting to the host device the at least a portion of the encrypted data via the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device;

receiving at the host computer the at least a portion of the encrypted data; and

decrypting the at least a portion of the encrypted data by the host computer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the device originating the request is the first wireless interface device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first wireless interface device and second wireless interface device are configured to wirelessly exchange data across a cellular digital packet data network.

23. A wireless system for facilitating data exchange between a utility meter and a host device, comprising:

a first wireless interface device coupled to the meter via a first hardwired connection;

a second wireless interface device coupled to the host device via a second hardwired connection, the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device operative to wirelessly exchange data between the meter and the host device; and

means for initiating a request for information from the meter, the means coupled to the first hardwired connection.

24. The wireless system of claim 23, wherein the means for initiating the request is the first wireless interface device.

25. The wireless system of claim 24, wherein the first wireless interface device and second wireless interface device are configured to wirelessly communicate via a cellular digital packet data network.

26. The wireless system of claim 23, wherein the first hardwired connection is an RS-232 hardwired connection.

27. The wireless system of claim 23, wherein the second hardwired connection is at least in part an internet connection.

28. The wireless system of claim 23, wherein the meter is one of an electric meter, a gas meter, and a water meter.

29. A wireless system for facilitating data exchange between a utility meter and a host device, comprising:

a first wireless interface device coupled to the meter via a first hardwired connection;

a second wireless interface device coupled to the host device via a second hardwired connection, the first wireless interface device and the second wireless interface device operative to wirelessly exchange data between the meter and the host device; and

means for removing at least a portion of information stored in the data by the meter prior to receipt by the host device, the means coupled to the first hardwired connection.

30. The wireless system of claim 29, wherein the means for removing is disposed within the first wireless interface device.

31. The wireless system of claim 30, wherein the first wireless interface device and second wireless interface device are configured to wirelessly communicate via a cellular digital packet data network.

32. A device for facilitating wireless data exchange between a utility meter for monitoring utility consumption and a host device, the device comprising:

means for acknowledging receipt on behalf of the host computer of data transmitted by the meter and destined for the host computer.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the means is at least in part a processor and memory of a wireless interface device which allows for communicating the data across a wireless network.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the wireless network is a cellular digital packet data network.

35. A device for facilitating wireless data exchange between a utility meter for monitoring utility consumption and a host device, the device comprising:

means for removing at least a portion of information stored in data transmitted by the meter and destined for the host device prior to receipt of the data by the host device.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the means is at least in part a processor and memory of a wireless interface device which allows for communicating the data across a wireless network.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the wireless network is a cellular digital packet data network.

38. A device for facilitating wireless data exchange between a utility meter for monitoring utility consumption and a host device, the device comprising:

means for initiating on behalf of the host computer a request for the meter to provide predetermined information.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the means is at least in part a processor and memory of a wireless interface device which allows for communicating the data across a wireless network.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the wireless network is a cellular digital packet data network.