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Communication System For Multi-Tiered Network

  • US 20080180275A1
  • Filed: 01/30/2007
  • Published: 07/31/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2007
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A multi-tiered communications network for an automated utility meter reading system, the communications network comprising:

  • a plurality of terminal units, each terminal unit operatively coupled to a utility meter and each terminal unit comprising;

    a sensor assembly adapted to detect operational data of the utility meter operatively coupled to the terminal unit;

    a data transmitter adapted to transmit the operational data; and

    a terminal receiver assembly adapted to receive communications;

    at least one primary unit each primary unit operatively coupled to a utility meter and each primary unit comprising;

    a sensor assembly adapted to detect operational data of a utility meter operatively coupled to the primary unit;

    a primary receiver assembly adapted to receive the terminal unit operational data from at least one of the plurality of terminal units; and

    a primary transmitter adapted to send command information to the at least one terminal unit and to transmit the operational data from the sensor assembly and the terminal unit operational data;

    at least one data collection unit comprising a data receiver assembly adapted to receive the operational data from at least one primary unit and a collection unit transmitter adapted to send command information to the at least one primary unit;

    wherein each terminal unit associates itself with a particular primary unit by receiving command information from the particular primary unit, the command information comprising a polling time, a polling interval, and a frequency channel number,such that if a particular terminal unit fails to communicate with its associated primary unit at the polling time, then the particular terminal unit associates itself with a different unit.

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