Dynamic self-configuring metering network

• US 20050083210A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eugene W. Hodges, Kenneth C. Shuey, Robert T. Mason Jr, Rodney C. Hemminger
• Original Assignee: Eugene W. Hodges, Kenneth C. Shuey, Robert T. Mason Jr, Rodney C. Hemminger
• Inventors: Hodges, Eugene W., Shuey, Kenneth C., Hemminger, Rodney C., Mason, Robert T. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,145,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.30
• 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 dynamic self-configuring system for collecting metering data comprises a collector meter. The collector meter scans for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the collector and registers such meters as level one meters. The collector transmits instructions to the level one meters to scan for meters that are operable to directly communicate with the level one meters. The collector registers meters that respond as level two meters.

Claims

1-52. -52. (canceled)

53. In a network having a collector that receives data from nodes and communicates the data to a communication server, a method of retrieving data from a node, comprising:

examining a list of nodes registered with said collector;

identifying a node with which communication is to be established;

reading data from said node by sending a request to said node to forward said data to said collector; and

storing said data at said collector.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

determining if additional data is to be read from additional nodes; and

reading said additional data from said additional nodes.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

determining if said additional data has been read from all nodes registered with said collector; and

waiting a predetermined time period before again reading from said nodes.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

determining if said request resulted in a successful data read from said node; and

retrying reading data from said node if said request was not successful.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein said retrying is performed until the data is read or a predetermined subnet reading interval.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said predetermined subnet reading interval is approximately 4 hours.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein said retrying occurs periodically.

60. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

increasing a number of packet level retries for each successive retry to read data from said node.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said nodes are organized into levels, and the method further comprising:

increasing said number of packet level retries in accordance with an increasingly higher level to which said node is assigned.

62. The method of claim 56, wherein said retrying said reading is an application level retry made by said collector, said method further comprising increasing packet level retries with each increasing application level retry.

63. A collector that receives data from nodes and communicates the data to a communication server, said collector maintaining a list of registered nodes with which said collector communicates, and said nodes being organized into levels within a subnet that communicates with said collector, a method of reading data from nodes within said subnet, comprising:

identifying a node with which communication is to be established from said list of registered nodes;

requesting data from said node;

receiving said data; and

storing said data at said collector.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

determining if additional data is to be read from additional nodes; and

reading said additional data from said additional nodes.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

determining if said additional data has been read from all nodes registered with said collector; and

waiting a predetermined time period before again reading from said nodes.

66. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

determining if data was successfully received from said node; and

retrying requesting data from said node if said data was not successfully received.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein said retrying is performed until the data is read or a predetermined subnet reading interval.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said predetermined subnet reading interval is approximately 4 hours.

69. The method of claim 66, wherein said retrying occurs periodically.

70. The method of claim 66, further comprising:

increasing a number of packet level retries for each successive retry to request data from said node.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

increasing said number of packet level retries in accordance with an increasingly higher level to which said node is assigned.

72. The method of claim 66, wherein said retrying is an application level retry made by said collector, said method further comprising increasing packet level retries with each increasing application level retry.