Data Communication Protocol in an Automatic Meter Reading System
First Claim
1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:
- at least one endpoint interfaced to a utility meter, each endpoint configured for operation in one of a plurality of operational modes and including at least one radio frequency (RF) module configured for selective operation using a communication protocol, the selective operation keyed to a current operational mode characterizing a selected one of the endpoints;
at least one fixed or mobile reader operative to conduct wireless communications directed at the RF module of a selected endpoint using the communications protocol, the wireless communications including messages based upon the current operational mode characterizing the selected endpoint; and
a set of pseudo-random noise (PN) sequences uniquely identified with each of said endpoints in the AMR and identifying each of said endpoints to the at least one fixed or mobile reader, the fixed or mobile reader and the selected endpoint configured to encode outbound and identify and decode received wireless communications with the identified set of PN sequences.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic meter reading (AMR) system (100) includes a fixed (114) or mobile (110, 112) reader and an endpoint interfaced to a utility meter (108). The fixed or mobile reader is capable of communicating with the endpoint via RF communication. The fixed or mobile reader sends a message to the endpoint that includes a response mode direction, which directs the endpoint to respond to the reader via either a mobile network mode or a fixed network mode. The AMR system allows implementation of, an migration between, one-way, one-and-a-half-way, and two-way communications system modes without requiring reprogramming, reconfiguring the metering endpoints or going through a reconfiguration cycle before effecting a communication.
24 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:
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at least one endpoint interfaced to a utility meter, each endpoint configured for operation in one of a plurality of operational modes and including at least one radio frequency (RF) module configured for selective operation using a communication protocol, the selective operation keyed to a current operational mode characterizing a selected one of the endpoints; at least one fixed or mobile reader operative to conduct wireless communications directed at the RF module of a selected endpoint using the communications protocol, the wireless communications including messages based upon the current operational mode characterizing the selected endpoint; and a set of pseudo-random noise (PN) sequences uniquely identified with each of said endpoints in the AMR and identifying each of said endpoints to the at least one fixed or mobile reader, the fixed or mobile reader and the selected endpoint configured to encode outbound and identify and decode received wireless communications with the identified set of PN sequences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a system for automatic meter reading (AMR) of utility meters, a method for transmitting and receiving wireless radio-frequency (RF) communications using an endpoint and a fixed or mobile reader, the method comprising:
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listening for an incoming communication initiation signal via the AMR system that includes one of a predefined first sequence and a predefined second sequence; and detecting a presence of the first sequence or the second sequence in a received communication initiation signal; responding to a detection of the first or the second sequence wherein; responding to a detection of the first sequence includes listening for any incoming instruction via the AMR system; and responding to a detection of the second sequence includes transmitting a first set of data via the AMR system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A utility meter endpoint, comprising:
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a central processing unit (CPU); a utility meter interface adapted to acquire utility meter information for the CPU from a utility meter; a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver interfaced with the CPU and adapted to receive and transmit wireless radio-communications via an AMR system; wherein the endpoint is configured to; operate in a receiving mode that is receptive to incoming radio communications from the AMR system; detect any incoming communication initiation signal that includes one of a known first sequence and a known second sequence; and respond to the first sequence at least in part by operating in a receiving mode that is receptive to any incoming instructions; and respond to the second sequence at least in part by operating in a transmit mode to send a first set of data via the AMR system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification