Method and system for collecting and transmitting data in a meter reading system

• US 20040263352A1
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cornwall, Mark K., Delamater, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,230,972 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 9/00 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

Abstract

A method for improving gap coverage in data collection in an automatic meter reading system is disclosed that reduces overall system cost while improving data collection. A transceiver in the system receives data from a plurality of meter modules via encoded reader transmitters (ERTs, or endpoints) and transmits the received data to a central utility database that assigns a unique identification code for each of the meter modules in the system. Data collected via the endpoints is transmitted to the central utility database and correlated with identification codes in the utility database to determine which endpoints did not respond. A data collection error is assigned to the endpoint from which data is not received by the central utility database and a receiver module is then positioned adjacent the endpoint assigned the data collection error to improve data collection.

Claims

1. A system for generating feedback to a central utility station performing selective load shedding of a plurality of electrical loads, the system comprising:

a plurality of electrical loads, wherein each of the electrical loads is connected to a meter module adapted to measure electricity consumed by the electrical load;

a plurality of encoded reader transmitters (endpoints), wherein each endpoint is associated with a meter module; and

at least one receiver module adapted to be communicatively connected to the central utility station and to at least one of the electrical loads via at least one endpoint;

wherein the at least one receiver module is further adapted to execute a load shed command received from the central utility, to receive consumption data from the meter module via the endpoint after execution of the load shed command, and to transmit the consumption data to the central utility station.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a low cost receiver (LCR) positioned proximate the meter module and endpoint, wherein the LCR comprises a filter coupled to an amplifier stage, the amplifier stage being coupled to a diode detector and a microcontroller.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the microcontroller receives a signal from a post-detection filter that is electrically coupled to an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the microcontroller is adapted to find an endpoint signal preamble.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the microcontroller comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a low cost receiver (LCR) positioned proximate the meter module and the endpoint, wherein the LCR is adapted to receive a frequency-modulated signal from the endpoint and comprises a filter coupled to an amplifier stage and a filter stage that feed a high-speed analog-to-digital converter that is in electrical communication with a microcontroller adapted to find an endpoint signal preamble.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the endpoints comprise bubble-up modules.

7. A method for improving gap coverage in data collection in an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, wherein the AMR system comprises at least one transceiver that receives data from a plurality of meter modules via encoded reader transmitters (endpoints), the method comprising the steps of:

collecting consumption data by the endpoints from the plurality of meter modules;

transmitting consumption data by the transceiver to a utility station having a central utility database, wherein the database is configured to store a unique identification code for each of the meter modules and endpoints in the AMR system;

correlating the consumption data associated with each meter module and endpoint with the identification codes in the database;

determining whether consumption data was not received from any of the endpoints;

assigning a data collection error to an endpoint from which consumption data was not received by the database;

positioning a receiver module proximate the endpoint assigned a data collection error;

transmitting consumption data from the endpoint assigned a data collection error to the receiver module; and

transmitting the consumption data received by the receiver module from the endpoint assigned a data collection error to the utility station.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiver module comprises a low cost receiver (LCR) that includes a filter in electrical communication with an amplifier coupled to a filter stage that feeds a diode detector.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiver module comprises a low cost receiver (LCR) adapted to receive and decode a frequency modulated signal, wherein the LCR includes a filter and an amplifier coupled to the filter stages and feeding a high-speed analog-to-digital converter that is in electrical communication with a microcontroller, the consumption data being transmitted from the endpoint to the LCR in the frequency modulated signal.

10. A system for generating feedback to a central utility station performing selective load shedding of a plurality of electrical loads, the system comprising:

a plurality of electrical loads, wherein each of the electrical loads is connected to a meter module adapted to measure electricity consumed by the electrical load;

a plurality of encoded reader transmitters (endpoints), wherein each endpoint is associated with a meter module; and

a plurality of low cost receiver (LCR) modules, wherein each LCR module is adapted to be communicatively connected to the central utility station and to at least one of the electrical loads via at least one endpoint;

wherein each LCR module is further adapted to execute a load shed command received from the central utility, to receive consumption data from a meter module via an endpoint after execution of the load shed command, and to transmit the consumption data to the central utility station.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of LCR modules are adapted to transmit the consumption data to the central utility station via a wired network.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of LCR modules are adapted to transmit the consumption data to the central utility station via a wireless network.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of endpoints are adapted to execute a load-shed command received from the central utility station, and wherein the plurality of LCR modules are adapted to receive consumption data from the associated meter module post-execution of the load-shed command and transmit the post-execution consumption data to the central utility station.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of LCR modules are adapted to receive and decode the consumption data in a frequency modulated signal.

15. A method for generating feedback to a central utility station performing selective load-shedding of a plurality of electrical loads, wherein each of the electrical loads connected to a meter module measures the electricity consumed by the electrical load, the method comprising the steps of:

sending a load-shed command from the central utility station to a meter module, wherein the load-shed command instructs an electrical load to transition from a first state to a reduced power second state;

storing first state consumption data of the electrical load at the meter module;

initiating a transition of the electrical load from the first state to the second state;

receiving second state consumption data of the electrical load at the meter module;

comparing the first state consumption data with the second state consumption data;

storing the second state consumption data at the meter module; and

sending the second state consumption data to the central utility station, thereby indicating that the electrical load is in the second state and confirming the load-shed command.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second state is a power-off state.

17. A method of collecting data by a central utility station in an automatic meter reading (AMR) system having a plurality of meter modules and at least one receiver module, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving via the receiver module a radio frequency (RF) signal from at least one of the meter modules disposed adjacent the receiver module;

decoding the received RF signal via a correlating technique to find a signal preamble;

decoding the received RF signal to find a data packet;

initiating a data transfer from the receiver module to a database at the central utility station; and

transmitting decoded data from the receiver module to the database via a communications network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of decoding the received RF signal to find a data packet further comprises decoding the received RF signal via a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) technique.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the RF signal is a frequency modulated signal.

20. A method of collecting data by a central utility station in an automatic meter reading (AMR) system having a plurality of meter modules, at least one receiver module, and at least one encoded reader transmitter (endpoint), the method comprising the steps of:

receiving via the receiver module a radio frequency (RF) signal from at least one of the meter modules disposed adjacent the receiver module;

decoding the received RF signal via a correlating technique to find a signal preamble;

decoding the received RF signal to find a data packet;

transmitting decoded data from the receiver module to an intermediate endpoint via a communications network; and

relaying decoded data from the intermediate endpoint to a database at the central utility station via a communications network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one endpoint is a two-way endpoint and is adapted to operate as a demand reader.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of executing and monitoring a load-shed command by the endpoint.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of decoding the received RF signal to find a data packet further comprises decoding the received RF signal via a received signal strength (RSSI) technique.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the received RF signal comprises a frequency modulated signal.

25. A low cost receiver (LCR) module for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, the LCR module comprising:

a receiver board;

an antenna mounted on the receiver board for receiving wireless signals;

a microcontroller, a signal processor, and a host computer communicatively coupled to the antenna and mounted on the receiver board, wherein the microcontroller directs data and commands to and from the signal processor and the host computer; and

a decoder circuit in electrical communication with the antenna and mounted on the receiver board, wherein the decoder circuit comprises a low noise amplifier circuit electrically coupled to a filter circuit, a variable attenuation circuit, and to a linear detector, wherein the decoder circuit is operable to pass received signals to the signal processor from the antenna.

26. The LCR module of claim 25, wherein the decoder circuit further comprises a fast Fourier transform (FFT) engine.

27. The LCR module of claim 25, wherein the signal processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

28. The LCR module of claim 27, wherein the DSP further comprises a correlator programmed to detect and compare data.

29. The LCR module of claim 28, wherein the wireless signals comprise frequency modulated signals, and wherein the LCR further comprises a high-speed analog-to-digital converter operable to feed signals to the DSP from the decoder circuit.

30. A receiver module comprising:

a receiver board, wherein the receiver board comprises a frequency generator in electrical communication with a mixer, wherein the mixer is adapted to receive signals from a variable attenuator and pass signals to an amplifier and a filter in electrical communication with a first analog-to-digital (A/D) converter;

an RF amplifier circuit mounted to the receiver board and in electrical communication with the variable attenuator, wherein the RF amplifier circuit comprises a linear amplifier coupled to an RF amplifier and a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter;

an antenna, wherein the antenna is adapted to receive radio frequency (RF) signals and transmit the RF signals to the RF amplifier circuit; and

a microcontroller, and a host computer mounted on the receiver board and communicatively coupled to a signal processor, wherein the microcontroller directs data and commands to and from the signal processor and the host computer, and wherein the signal processor is fed by the at least one A/D converter.

31. The receiver module of claim 30, wherein the signal processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

32. The receiver module of claim 31, further comprising a linear detector circuit coupled to a second A/D converter, wherein the first A/D converter comprises a low-speed A/D converter in electrical communication with the linear detector circuit to feed the DSP, and wherein the second A/D converter comprises a high-speed A/D converter electrically coupled to the DSP.

33. The receiver module of claim 31, wherein the at least one A/D converter comprises a high-speed A/D converter, and wherein the RF signals comprise frequency modulated signals.