Automatic Meter Reading Communication

• US 20080117077A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nivis LLC
• Original Assignee: Nivis LLC
• Inventors: Chilom, Marius Ovidiu, Ratiu, Ovidiu
• Granted Patent: US 7,956,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• 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

An automatic consumption meter reading system utilizing a radio frequency network and a power line carrier network is provided. The radio frequency (RF) network and the power line carrier (PLC) network are communicatively linked with a radio frequency to power line communication bridge device. The radio frequency to power line communication bridge device is communicatively linked to a consumption meter. An automatic meter reading device includes an RF modem and a PLC modem and transmits and receives data to and from a consumption meter using the RF and PLC modems.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first transceiver communicatively coupled to a meter and configured to transmit a meter signal over a first type of medium; and

a second transceiver communicatively coupled to the first transceiver and configured to transmit the meter signal over the second type of medium.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second transceivers is a Power Line Carrier (PLC) transceiver.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second transceivers is a radio frequency (RF) transceiver.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the radio frequency transceiver is a wireless area network transceiver.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a converter for converting the meter signal for transmission on the second type of transmission medium.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the meter is one of a gas meter, a water meter, and an electric meter.

7. A system comprising:

a plurality of meters;

a plurality of a first type of transceivers, each of the plurality of transceivers communicatively coupled to one of the plurality of meters;

a concentrator communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of transceivers; and

a network transceiver communicatively coupled to the concentrator and a data collection center.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein a plurality of the plurality of the first type of transceivers is communicatively coupled to the concentrator in a serial configuration.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein a plurality of the plurality of the first type of transceivers is communicatively coupled to the concentrator in a parallel configuration.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the network transceiver is a wireless area network transceiver.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the first type of transceiver is a Power Line Carrier (PLC) transceiver.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the first type of transceiver is a radio frequency (RF) transceiver.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein a meter of the plurality of meters is one of a gas meter, a water meter, and an electric meter.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a meter signal with a first transceiver for transmission of the meter signal on a first type of transmission medium; and

transmitting the meter signal to a second transceiver for transmission of the meter signal on a second type of transmission medium.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising converting the meter signal for transmission on the second type of transmission medium.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting the meter signal on the first type of transmission medium.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting the meter signal on the second type of transmission medium.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the first and second transceivers is a Power Line Carrier (PLC) transceiver.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the first and second transceivers is a radio frequency (RF) transceiver.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first transceiver is a master transceiver and the second transceiver is a slave transceiver to the master transceiver.

21. An automatic meter reading device, comprising:

a first transceiver communicatively coupled to a first meter via an electricity line and configured to receive and transmit signals containing data over the electricity line;

a second transceiver communicatively coupled to the first transceiver and wirelessly coupled to a second meter, the second transceiver configured to wirelessly receive signals containing data from the second meter and to wirelessly transmit signals containing data to the second meter;

a memory communicatively coupled to the first and second transceivers;

a processor configured to receive signals containing data from one of the first or second transceivers and to convert the signals containing data for transmission by the other of the first or second transceivers; and

an interface coupled to a wide area network for communication with a processing device also coupled to the wide area network.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the first transceiver is a PLC transceiver that receives signals containing electricity meter data from an electricity meter coupled by an electricity line, and the second transceiver is a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that wirelessly transmits signals containing the electricity meter data to a meter having an RF transceiver.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the first transceiver is a radio frequency (RF) transceiver that receives wirelessly signals containing electricity meter data from a meter having an RF transceiver, and the second transceiver is a PLC transceiver that transmits signals containing the electricity meter data to an electricity meter coupled by an electricity line.