RF meter reading network with wake-up tone calibrated endpoints

• US 20070057813A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cahill-O'Brien, Barry, Cornwall, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/222,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20070057813A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• 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

Abstract

The radio frequency meter reading network of the present invention generally includes a utility meter, an endpoint interfaced to that utility meter and a reading device. The endpoint includes a receiver/transmitter having an oscillator and a data collector. The reading device operates to transmit a wake-up tone. The receiver of the endpoint scans frequencies looking for the wake-up tone and upon receiving it, utilizes the information contained within the wake-up tone transmission to calibrate its oscillator and transmit the utility meter data collected by the data collector.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) meter reading network, comprising:

a utility meter;

an endpoint interfaced to said utility meter, wherein said endpoint includes a receiver/transmitter having an oscillator and data collector;

a reading device, wherein said reading device transmits a wake-up tone, wherein said receiver/transmitter receives said wake-up tone and utilizes information contained within said wake-up tone transmission to calibrate its oscillator to match the frequency of the wake-up tone.

2. The RF meter reading network of claim 1, wherein said wake-up tone comprises a carrier containing a known symbol.

3. The RF meter reading network of claim 2, wherein said symbol indicates to the endpoint the type of reading device.

4. The RF meter reading device of claim 3, wherein said reading device is selected from the group consisting of:

a handheld terminal;

a vehicle, a repeater, and a fixed network reader.

5. The RF meter reading device of claim 1, wherein said reading device is selected from the group consisting of:

a handheld terminal;

a vehicle, a repeater, and a fixed network reader.

6. The RF meter reading device of claim 4, wherein said endpoint transmits collected utility meter data in a manner consistent with the type of reading device transmitting said wake-up tone.

7. The RF meter reading device of claim 6, wherein said manner is selected from a single channel response for a handheld reading device and a multi-channel response for a vehicle reading device.

8. A method for transmitting data in an RF meter reading network, wherein said network includes a utility meter, an endpoint interfaced to said utility meter, wherein said endpoint includes a receiver/transmitter having an oscillator and a data collector, and a reading device, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a wake-up tone from said reading device;

receiving the wake-up tone with said receiver/transmitter calibrating the frequency of the oscillator according to the received wake-up tone transmission; and

transmitting to said reading device, via the calibrated oscillator of said receiver/transmitter, data collected by said data collector from said utility meter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said wake-up tone comprises a carrier containing a known symbol.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said symbol indicates to the endpoint the type of reading device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said reading device is selected from a the group consisting of:

a handheld terminal, a vehicle, a repeater, and fixed network reader.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said reading device is selected from a the group consisting of:

a handheld terminal, a vehicle, a repeater, and fixed network reader.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of transmitting is performed in a manner consistent with the type of reading device transmitting said wake-up tone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said manner is selected from a single channel response for a handheld reading device and a multi-channel response for a vehicle reading device.