RF meter reading system

• US 20070057812A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cornwall, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,535,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• 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 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• 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: 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

A meter reading system of the present invention enables transmission of data between utility meter endpoints and readers. In a first embodiment, the endpoint provides a short message providing its identification to the reader and immediately enters a listen mode. If the reader hears the short message, it can immediately respond and request additional information from the endpoint. If the reader does not hear the short message or does not request additional information during the endpoints listening period, the endpoint enters a sleep mode until its next transmission time. In another embodiment, the endpoint transmits an SCM via AM communication to the reader. The reader can then request additional information and the endpoint can respond with the information via two-way FM communication. In another embodiment, the endpoint is capable of transmitting interval data to the reader via either AM or FM communication.

Claims

9. A method for transmitting data in a utility meter reading system having a reader and a plurality of endpoints, comprising the steps of:

bubbling up each of said endpoints;

transmitting a short burst transmission from each of said endpoints;

listening with said endpoint for a response from said reader;

listening by said reader for said short burst transmission;

upon receiving said short burst transmission, utilizing said reader to request additional information from the endpoint that sent the short burst transmission;

upon receiving said request, utilizing said endpoint to transmit the additional information; and

upon not receiving said request, making said endpoint sleep until a next, pre-programmed short burst transmission time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of transmitting a short burst transmission from each of said endpoints comprises transmitting substantially only the identification of the endpoint.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of bubbling up each of said endpoints comprises bubbling up according to a pre-established schedule and wherein said pre-established schedule bubbles slowly during a non-read time and bubbles quickly during a read time.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said request for additional information may comprise a request for data from said endpoint or may comprise a request for performance of a non-data function by said endpoint.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing a repeater to communicate between said reader and said endpoints.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said repeater synchronizes to those endpoints that it can hear.

15. An automatic meter reading system, comprising:

a reader, and

a plurality of utility meter endpoints, wherein each of said plurality of endpoints transmits a standard consumption message (SCM) via an AM transmission and wherein said endpoint immediately goes into a two-way, FM receive/transmit mode upon completing the transmission of said SCM, wherein upon said reader receiving said SCM and desiring additional information from said endpoint, said reader requests said information via a two-way, FM communication.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said reader includes a narrow band receiver.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said reader comprises a digital signal processing (DSP) radio, and wherein a receive bandwidth of said DSP radio is set by a DSP firmware.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said reader directs a bubble rate of each of said plurality of utility meter endpoints.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said reader directs said bubble rate to slow after said reader has read each of said plurality of endpoints.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising a repeater, wherein said repeater provides intermediate communication between said reader and said plurality of endpoints, and wherein said repeater communicates both with AM and two-way, FM receive/transmit.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein said system comprises a fixed network system or a mobile system.

22. A method for transmitting data in a utility meter reading system having a reader and an endpoint, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a standard consumption message (SCM) via an AM transmission by said endpoint;

switching said endpoint into a two-way, FM receive/transmit mode upon transmitting said SCM;

receiving said SCM with said reader,

requesting additional information from said endpoint with said reader via two-way FM communication between said reader and endpoint.

23. The method of claim 23, wherein said reader includes a narrow band receiver.

1. An automatic meter reading system comprising:

a utility meter reader having a transmitter and a receiver, wherein said utility meter reader listens via said receiver to endpoint transmissions; and

a plurality of utility meter endpoints each having a transmitter and a receiver, wherein each of said plurality of endpoints bubbles up to transmit a short burst transmission via said transmitter, wherein each of said plurality of endpoints turns off its transmitter after said short burst and listens for a response from said reader, wherein upon one of said plurality of endpoints receiving a response request from said reader, said endpoint transmits data requested by said reader; and

wherein upon of said plurality of endpoints not receiving a response from said reader, said endpoint sleeps until a next pre-programmed transmit time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of endpoints transmits substantially only its identification.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said automatic meter reading system is selected from a fixed network system and a mobile system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of endpoints bubbles up according to a pre-established schedule and wherein said pre-established schedule bubbles slowly during a non-read time and bubbles quickly during a read time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further includes a repeater having a transmitter and a receiver.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said repeater transmits a short burst transmission via said transmitter, wherein said repeater turns off its transmitter after said short burst and listens for a response from said reader, wherein upon said repeater receiving a response from said reader, said repeater listens to capture all endpoints it can hear and transmits an identification for each endpoint to said reader;

and wherein upon said repeater not receiving a response from said reader, said repeater sleeps until a next pre-programmed transmit time.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said repeater synchronizes to the endpoints that it can hear.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said response request may comprise a request for data from said endpoint or may comprise a request for performance of a non-data function by said endpoint.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said reader comprises a digital signal processing (DSP) radio, and wherein a receive bandwidth of said DSP radio is set by a DSP firmware.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of directing the bubble rate of said endpoint with said reader via two-way FM communication.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of directing comprises directing said bubble rate to slow after said reader has read said endpoint.

26-1. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing intermediary communication between said endpoint and said reader via a repeater, wherein said repeater communicates in both AM and FM.

27. A mobile daily interval meter reading system, comprising:

an endpoint, wherein said endpoint is capable of transmitting in either AM and FM and wherein said endpoint saves a plurality of intervals of utility meter data;

a reader, wherein said reader listens for said endpoint, and upon hearing said endpoint said reader transmits a command to the endpoint to send a predetermined number of intervals over a predetermined communication channel or channels.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said predetermined number of intervals are sent by said endpoint to said reader at a transmission rate of between 20,000 and 33,000 bits per second.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said reader is capable of transmitting additional commands to said endpoint, wherein said additional commands are selected from:

a command to reset registers, a command to send time of use data, and a command to tell the endpoint to sleep for a predetermined amount of time.