AUTOMATED METER READING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automated meter reading system, comprising:
- a plurality of communication nodes configuring an ad-hoc mesh network, the plurality of communication nodes capable of collecting utility usage data from utility meters;
at least one controller station operably communicating with the ad-hoc mesh network, wherein the ad-hoc mesh network is capable of dynamically routing the utility usage data to the controller station; and
a central monitoring station operably communicating with the controller station, the central monitoring station capable ofreceiving the utility usage data from the controller station, andprocessing the utility usage data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated meter reading system and method include a plurality of communication nodes forming ad-hoc mesh network. The plurality of communication nodes collect utility usage data from utility meters. A controller station communicates with the ad-hoc mesh network, which dynamically routes the utility usage data to the controller station. A central monitoring station communicates with the controller station. The central monitoring station receives and processes the utility usage data from the controller station for the efficient and accurate billing and other accounting and management operations.
110 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. An automated meter reading system, comprising:
-
a plurality of communication nodes configuring an ad-hoc mesh network, the plurality of communication nodes capable of collecting utility usage data from utility meters; at least one controller station operably communicating with the ad-hoc mesh network, wherein the ad-hoc mesh network is capable of dynamically routing the utility usage data to the controller station; and a central monitoring station operably communicating with the controller station, the central monitoring station capable of receiving the utility usage data from the controller station, and processing the utility usage data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. An ad-hoc mesh network system for automated meter reading, comprising:
-
a plurality of communication nodes configuring at least one ad-hoc mesh network, the plurality of communication nodes capable of collecting utility usage data from utility meters, wherein the ad-hoc mesh network is capable of dynamically routing the utility usage data to a central monitoring station, and wherein the central monitoring station is capable of processing the utility usage data for billing, tracking, and forecasting. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for automated meter reading, comprising:
-
providing a plurality of communication nodes operably communicating with utility meters; transmitting utility usage data from the utility meters to the plurality of communication nodes; configuring an ad-hoc mesh network using the communication nodes; dynamically routing the utility usage data to a controller station via the ad-hoc mesh network; transmitting the utility usage data from the controller station to a billing station; and processing the utility usage data by the billing station for billing, tracking, and forecasting. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
-
Specification