FILTERING OF METER READING DATA
First Claim
1. In a metering environment that includes a plurality of collectors and a utility meter, a method of filtering data that is transmitted from the utility meter, comprising:
- ranking the relative ability of the plurality of collectors to capture transmissions from the utility meter;
based on the relative ranking, identifying at least one collector from the plurality of collectors that will be configured to disregard transmissions that originate from the utility meter; and
providing the at least one collector with network configuration information for differentiating between transmissions containing data that will be forwarded to a utility service provider from transmissions that originate from the utility meter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Packet formats and associated metering infrastructure for filtering meter reading data that is being transmitted by utility meters are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method suitable for being implemented in a metering environment is provided that filters meter reading data being received by multiple collectors. Specifically, the method includes ranking the relative ability of the plurality of collectors to capture transmissions from the same utility meter. Based on the relative ranking, at least one collector from the plurality of collectors is identified that will be configured to disregard transmissions that originate from the utility meter. Then, the method provides the collector with a read list for differentiating between transmissions containing meter reading data that will be forwarded to a utility service provider from transmissions that originate from the utility meter.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a metering environment that includes a plurality of collectors and a utility meter, a method of filtering data that is transmitted from the utility meter, comprising:
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ranking the relative ability of the plurality of collectors to capture transmissions from the utility meter; based on the relative ranking, identifying at least one collector from the plurality of collectors that will be configured to disregard transmissions that originate from the utility meter; and providing the at least one collector with network configuration information for differentiating between transmissions containing data that will be forwarded to a utility service provider from transmissions that originate from the utility meter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for filtering meter reading data that is transmitted to a utility service provider, the system comprising:
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a utility meter configured to encode and transmit packets that include a network configuration associated with the utility meter; a host server operative to obtain a sample of meter reading data originating from the utility meter and define a network configuration for at least one collector to disregard packets that originate from the utility meter; and a collector configured to obtain a packet transmitted by the utility meter and compare the network configuration represented in a received packet with the network configuration defined by the host server to determine whether to collect meter reading data in the received packet. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A collector configured to filter meter reading data having instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the collector to:
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accept a network configuration to disregard packets originating from a first utility meter; receive a packet that includes a representation of a network configuration associated with a utility meter that encoded the packet; compare the network configuration represented in the packet with the network configuration of the collector; and if the result of the comparison indicates that the packet originated from the first utility meter, prevent meter reading data encoded in the packet from being forwarded to a remote device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification