Automated utility metering system
First Claim
1. An automatic metering system, comprising:
- a plurality of groups of utility meters, each of said groups of utility meters comprising a group of geographically related utility meters, each of said utility meters comprising an interface unit operable to accumulate usage data and to transmit said usage data over power lines utilizing power line carrier communication;
a plurality of data forwarding apparatus, each of said data forwarding apparatus comprising power line carrier communication apparatus operable to receive usage data from each utility meter in one corresponding group of said groups of utility meters;
each of said data forwarding apparatus comprising a first wireless communication module;
each of said data forwarding apparatus having a geographic relationship to its corresponding group of said utility meters; and
a computer located geographically apart from said plurality of data forwarding apparatus, said central computer comprising a second wireless communication module, said central computer operating cooperatively with each data forwarding apparatus of said plurality of data forwarding apparatus to automatically upload usage data from all of said utility meters via said plurality of data forwarding apparatus.
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Abstract
An automatic metering system in accordance with the principles of the invention comprises a plurality of groups of geographically related utility meters. Each utility meter comprises an interface unit operable to accumulate usage data and to transmit the usage data over power lines utilizing power line carrier. The system further comprises a plurality of data forwarding apparatus each comprising power line carrier communication apparatus operable to receive usage data from each utility meter in its group of utility meters. Each data forwarding apparatus comprises a first wireless communication module. Each data forwarding apparatus has a geographic relationship to its corresponding group of utility meters. A computer is located geographically apart from the plurality of data forwarding apparatus. The central computer comprises a second wireless communication module and operates cooperatively with each data forwarding apparatus to upload usage data from all of the utility meters via the plurality of data forwarding apparatus.
54 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An automatic metering system, comprising:
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a plurality of groups of utility meters, each of said groups of utility meters comprising a group of geographically related utility meters, each of said utility meters comprising an interface unit operable to accumulate usage data and to transmit said usage data over power lines utilizing power line carrier communication;
a plurality of data forwarding apparatus, each of said data forwarding apparatus comprising power line carrier communication apparatus operable to receive usage data from each utility meter in one corresponding group of said groups of utility meters;
each of said data forwarding apparatus comprising a first wireless communication module;
each of said data forwarding apparatus having a geographic relationship to its corresponding group of said utility meters; and
a computer located geographically apart from said plurality of data forwarding apparatus, said central computer comprising a second wireless communication module, said central computer operating cooperatively with each data forwarding apparatus of said plurality of data forwarding apparatus to automatically upload usage data from all of said utility meters via said plurality of data forwarding apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An automatic metering system, comprising:
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a plurality of groups of utility meters, each of said groups of utility meters comprising a group of geographically related utility meters, each of said utility meters comprising an interface unit operable to accumulate usage data and to transmit said usage data in response to received upload requests, said uploads requests and said usage data being communicated over a communication link selected from the group comprising a power line carrier link, a public switched telephone network communications link; and
a wireless link;
a plurality of data forwarding apparatus, each of said data forwarding apparatus comprising apparatus operable to forward said upload requests over a corresponding selected communication link to corresponding ones of said utility meters in a corresponding group of said groups of utility meters and to receive;
each of said data forwarding apparatus comprising a first wireless communication module;
each of said data forwarding apparatus having a geographic relationship to its corresponding group of said utility meters; and
a computer located geographically apart from said plurality of data forwarding apparatus, said central computer comprising a second wireless communication module, for selectively communicating with said plurality of data forwarding apparatus, said central computer operating cooperatively with each data forwarding apparatus of said plurality of data forwarding apparatus to selectively provide upload requests to said utility meters via said data forwarding apparatus and to receive usage data in response to such requests. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification