Data collector for an automated meter reading system

• US 20060071812A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Borleske, Andrew J., Hodges, Eugene W., Smith, Kathryn J., Mason, Robert T. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,312,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The invention includes an electronic utility meter, a data collector/meter and a method for communicating data in an automated meter reading system. The inventive method includes communicating data with a network and a first electronic utility meter, and communicating the data with the first electronic utility meter and one or more other meters.

Claims

1-60. -60. (canceled)

61. A data collector, comprising:

an electronic utility meter that collects and stores billing data related to a commodity consumption; and

a network communication device for communicating with downstream utility meters and to a remote location that processes said billing data,

wherein said data collector communicates wirelessly with said downstream utility meters to read and store billing data contained in said downstream utility meters, and

wherein said data collector communicates said billing data to said remote location for processing.

62. The data collector of claim 61, wherein said data collector commands said downstream utility meters to perform billing-related functions.

63. The data collector of claim 62, wherein said billing-related functions comprise at least one of storing said billing data, conducting a demand reset, setting a time-of-use schedule (TOU), and changing TOU season schedules.

64. The data collector of claim 62, wherein said data collector commands said downstream utility meters to perform said billing-related functions immediately or at a scheduled time.

65. The data collector of claim 62, wherein said data collector notifies said downstream utility meters to store a copy of current billing data and reset a peak demand at a predetermined time.

66. The data collector of claim 65, wherein said data collector determines if said downstream utility meters have performed said reset of said peak demand.

67. The data collector of claim 61, wherein said network communication device comprises a WAN option board for communicating to said remote location and a LAN option board for communicating to said downstream utility meters.

68. The data collector of claim 61, wherein said data collector routes data between said downstream utility meters and said remote location.

69. The data collector of claim 68, wherein said data collector communicates a time reference to said downstream utility meters.

70. The data collector of claim 68, wherein said data collector registers said downstream utility meters into a sub-net of utility meters that communicate to said data collector.

71. A method of providing a utility meter in a data collector, comprising:

collecting and storing billing data related to a commodity consumption;

communicating wirelessly with downstream utility meters to read and store billing data contained in said downstream utility meters; and

communicating said billing data to said remote location for processing.

72. The data method of claim 71, further comprising:

commanding said downstream utility meters to perform billing-related functions.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein said billing-related functions comprise at least one of storing said billing data, conducting a demand reset, setting a time-of-use schedule (TOU), and changing TOU season schedules.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein said downstream utility meters are commanded to perform said billing-related functions immediately or at a scheduled time.

75. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

notifying said downstream utility meters to store a copy of current billing data; and

resetting a peak demand at a predetermined time.

76. The method of claim 75, further comprising:

determining if said downstream utility meters have performed said reset of said peak demand.

77. The method of claim 71, said data collector comprising a network communication board comprising a WAN option board for communicating to said remote location and a LAN option board for communicating to said downstream utility meters.

78. The method of claim 71, further comprising:

routing data between said downstream utility meters and said remote location.

79. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

communicating a time reference to said downstream utility meters.

80. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

registering said downstream utility meters into a sub-net of utility meters that communicate to said data collector.