Method and configuring parameters of GPRS-type communication devices over a cellular phone network, and corresponding communications system

• US 20070249362A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron Metering Solutions UK Ltd. (Itron, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Itron Metering Solutions UK Ltd. (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robins, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A method for remotely configuring parameters of GPRS-type communication devices (2, 3) within a communications system in which data are exchanged between said GPRS-type communication devices (2, 3) and a central communications system (1) over a cellular phone network (6). According to the invention, configuration parameters (Pn) are first set and then stored in a configuration instruction queue (10) of said central communications system (1). Upon initiation of a communication using the GPRS protocol from a transmitting GPRS-type communication device (Idm), corresponding configuration parameters, provided that they are stored in queue, are then sent to said transmitting GPRS-type device (Idm) using GPRS protocol. The method is applicable to remote configuration of utility metering data over a GSM type network.

Claims

1. A method for remotely configuring parameters of GPRS-type communication devices within a communications system in which data are exchanged between said GPRS-type communication devices and a central communications system over a cellular phone network, said method comprising the steps of:

setting configuration parameters linked to at least one of said GPRS-type communication devices and storing said configuration parameters in a configuration instruction queue of said central communications system (1);

upon initiation of a communication using the GPRS protocol from any transmitting GPRS-type communication device, receiving at said central communications system data from said transmitting GPRS-type communication device; and

in case configuration parameters linked to said transmitting GPRS-type device have been stored in said queue, sending said configuration parameters to said transmitting GPRS-type device using the GPRS protocol.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of sending configuration parameters include sending an acknowledgement message to said transmitting GPRS-type communication device for acknowledging receipt of said data, said configuration parameters being attached to said acknowledgment message.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein stored configuration parameters are marked with information defining a validity period during which they can be sent to corresponding GPRS-type communication device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said method further comprises a step of checking whether the current date and time is within said validity period, said step of sending configuration parameters being performed only if said validity period has not expired yet.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises a step of sending an acknowledgment message back to said central communications system upon reception of said configuration parameters.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of setting configuration parameters comprises sub-steps of entering or generating configuration parameters remotely from said central communications system, and downloading them into said queue.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method is used for configuring parameters of several utility meters or utility meter interface units linked to several utility meters.

8. A communications system in which data are exchanged between GPRS-type communication devices and a central communications system over a cellular phone network, wherein said central communications system comprises:

a configuration instruction queue for storing configuration parameters linked to at least one of said GPRS-type communication devices;

means for receiving data sent from a transmitting GPRS-type communication device upon a communication initiated by said transmitting GPRS-type communication device using the GPRS protocol; and

in case configuration parameters linked to said transmitting GPRS-type device have been stored in said queue, means for sending said configuration parameters to said transmitting GPRS-type device (Idm) using the GPRS protocol.

9. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein said system further comprises an electronic configuration generator, separate from said central communications system, for generating said configuration parameters, and in that said central communications system further comprises a system programming interface for receiving configuration parameters downloaded from said generator.

10. A communications system according to claim 8, wherein said GPRS-type communication devices are utility meters or utility meter interface units.