Method of remote collection of data for the account of an entity, using a third party data communication network, e.g. for automatic meter reading
First Claim
1. A method of remote collection of data for the account of an entity, using a data communications network operated by a third party with respect to said entity, said method comprising the steps of, dynamically governing access to said data communication network by said entity for remote data collection by said third party as a function of the spare data-carrying capacity of said communications network;
- and signalling by said third party to said entity at least one dynamically variable condition of use of said network, relating to at least one of or both a geographical or topographical zone of said network authorised for access by said entity, and a quantity of data authorised to be transported on said network.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The remote collection of data for the account of an entity (2) uses a data communications network (26) operated by a third party (28) with respect to the entity. It is characterised in that the access to said data communication network (26) by the entity for remote data collection is governed dynamically by said third party (28) as a function of the spare data-carrying capacity of the communications network. The third party (28) may thus grant the entity (2) access to the communications network (26) when the level of the third party'"'"'s own data traffic on said network is below a determined threshold value, corresponding to an occupation below peak capacity. The approach finds applications notably in the field of automatic meter reading (AMR), where the network operator, e.g. a cellular telephone operator, is a third party with respect to the utilities company (2), and the collected data is meter reading data from remote meters (14a-14g) sent via GPRS interfaces (16a-16d).
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of remote collection of data for the account of an entity, using a data communications network operated by a third party with respect to said entity, said method comprising the steps of,
dynamically governing access to said data communication network by said entity for remote data collection by said third party as a function of the spare data-carrying capacity of said communications network; - and
signalling by said third party to said entity at least one dynamically variable condition of use of said network, relating to at least one of or both a geographical or topographical zone of said network authorised for access by said entity, and a quantity of data authorised to be transported on said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16)
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12. Method of remote automatic meter reading by an entity, using a data communications network operated by a third party with respect to said entity, said method comprising the steps of:
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accessing by said entity said data communications network for automatic meter reading at periods dynamically determined by said third party as a function of the spare data-carrying capacity of said communications network; and
signalling by said third party to said entity at least one dynamically variable condition of use of said network, relating to at least one of or both;
a geographical or topographical zone of said network authorised for access by said entity, and a quantity of data authorised to be transported on said network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 18)
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15. Method of managing a data communications network, wherein the operator of said network grants network access to an entity for the purpose of remote meter reading, said network operator being a third party with respect to said entity, said method comprising the steps of:
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governing access by said network operator to said data communications network for remote data collection dynamically as a function of the spare data-carrying capacity of said communications network; and
signalling to said entity at least one dynamically variable condition of use of said network, relating to at least one of or both;
a geographical or topographical zone of said network authorised for access by said entity, and a quantity of data authorised to be transported on said network.
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17. A system for the remote collection of data for the account of an entity, using a data communication network operated by a third party with respect to said entity, said system comprising:
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means for governing access to said data communication network by said entity for remote data collection dynamically as a function of the spare data-carrying capacity of said communications network; and
means for signalling to said entity at least one dynamically variable condition of use of said network, relating to at least one of or both;
a geographical or topographical zone of said network authorised for access by said entity, and/or a quantity of data authorised to be transported on said network.
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Specification