WAKEUP AND INTERROGATION OF METER-READING DEVICES USING LICENSED NARROWBAND AND UNLICENSED WIDEBAND RADIO COMMUNICATION
First Claim
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1. A meter reading device comprising:
- a transceiver configured and arranged to transmit and receive radio signals;
a processor in electrical communication with the transceiver and configured and arranged to execute processor-executable instructions to control operation of the meter reading device; and
a memory in electrical communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the operation of the meter reading device to operate in a selected one of a sleep mode in which the transceiver periodically listens on a licensed channel for a carrier signal, a rouse mode in which the transceiver receives data via the licensed channel, a wake mode in which the meter reading device processes the data received via the licensed channel in the rouse mode, and a reply mode in which the transceiver transmits a reply on an unlicensed channel having a broader bandwidth than the licensed channel, the selected mode in which the meter reading device operates being reconfigurable.
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Abstract
A meter data collection system in which a licensed narrowband frequency channel is used to wake up carrier-sensed, battery-powered meter reading devices (MRDs) is disclosed herein. In the meter data collection system disclosed herein, an unlicensed wideband channel is used to transmit data replies from the MRDs to a mobile data collection device. In another embodiment disclosed herein, a meshed network of MRDs communicating on the unlicensed channel is combined with a roaming interrogator that uses the licensed channel to send commands or to perform on-demand reads.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A meter reading device comprising:
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a transceiver configured and arranged to transmit and receive radio signals; a processor in electrical communication with the transceiver and configured and arranged to execute processor-executable instructions to control operation of the meter reading device; and a memory in electrical communication with the processor and storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the operation of the meter reading device to operate in a selected one of a sleep mode in which the transceiver periodically listens on a licensed channel for a carrier signal, a rouse mode in which the transceiver receives data via the licensed channel, a wake mode in which the meter reading device processes the data received via the licensed channel in the rouse mode, and a reply mode in which the transceiver transmits a reply on an unlicensed channel having a broader bandwidth than the licensed channel, the selected mode in which the meter reading device operates being reconfigurable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating an interrogator device comprising a transceiver, the method comprising:
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causing the transceiver to emit a carrier signal on a licensed channel, the carrier signal causing a meter reading device to transition from a sleep mode to a rouse mode; transmitting data from the interrogator device to the meter reading device using the licensed channel, wherein the data comprises a preamble, an address of the meter reading device, a command, and a plurality of checksum bits; and receiving a reply from the meter reading device on an unlicensed channel having a broader bandwidth than the licensed channel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a meter reading device comprising a transceiver, the method comprising:
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operating the meter reading device in a sleep mode in which the transceiver periodically listens on a licensed channel for a carrier signal from an interrogator; in response to receiving a carrier signal from the interrogator, operating the meter reading device in a rouse mode in which the transceiver receives data from the interrogator via the licensed channel; in response to determining that the data received from the interrogator is addressed to the meter reading device, operating the meter reading device in a wake mode in which the meter reading device processes the data received from the interrogator via the licensed channel; and in response to determining that the data received from the interrogator requires a reply, operating the meter reading device in a reply mode in which the meter reading device transmits the reply to the interrogator using an unlicensed channel having a broader bandwidth than the licensed channel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification