TIME SYNCHRONIZATION OF PORTABLE DEVICES
First Claim
1. A method for transferring a standard for accurate time within a meter reading system that includes a computing system, a reader device, and a time transfer device, wherein the time transfer device is accessible by the computing system and the reader device, the method comprising:
- detecting the time transfer device that is connected to the computing system;
obtaining accurate time from a time source;
accessing a clock of the time transfer device to read a device time of the time transfer device;
downloading data stored in the time transfer device; and
synchronizing the clock of the time transfer device to the obtained accurate time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable time transfer device is provided to transfer accurate date/time to reader devices and, thus, the reader devices do not have to be connected to a source of accurate time. A host computing system is configured to synchronize the portable time transfer device to a network, GPS, or other source of precise (accurate) time. Once the portable time transfer device is synchronized to the accurate date/time by the host computing system, the portable time transfer device is ready to be used by reader devices or any other devices (e.g., laptops, etc.) which need to maintain accurate time regardless of the connectivity to a network or GPS.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for transferring a standard for accurate time within a meter reading system that includes a computing system, a reader device, and a time transfer device, wherein the time transfer device is accessible by the computing system and the reader device, the method comprising:
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detecting the time transfer device that is connected to the computing system; obtaining accurate time from a time source; accessing a clock of the time transfer device to read a device time of the time transfer device; downloading data stored in the time transfer device; and synchronizing the clock of the time transfer device to the obtained accurate time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for transferring a standard time to reader devices in a meter reading system, the apparatus comprising a clock and a memory, the apparatus operable to:
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receive, from a host computing system, a first standard time into the clock, wherein the clock is synchronized to the received first standard time; connect to a reader device for transferring the first standard time, wherein, upon connection, the reader device is synchronized to the first standard time; receive data collected by the reader device, the received data being stored in the memory; connect to the host computing system for downloading the data stored in the memory; and receive, from the host computing system, a second standard time into the clock, wherein the clock is re-synchronized to the second standard time. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for transferring accurate time from a time transfer device to a reader device, wherein the time transfer device is accessible by the reader device, the method comprising:
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detecting the time transfer device that is connected to the reader device at the time of initialization; accessing a clock of the time transfer device to read a device time of the time transfer device; synchronizing the clock of the reader device to the device time of the time transfer device; collecting meter reading data from meters; and storing in the time transfer device the collected meter reading data with timestamps based on the clock of the reader device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification