MOBILE AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110038288A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Hovelsrud, Neil, Larson, Gary L., Osterloh, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/912,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20110038288A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/75 by polling or interrogating the sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for collecting data generated by a plurality of metering devices located within a geographic area. The mobile automatic meter reading system provides two-way simplex communication capabilities between a mobile receiving device and a plurality of endpoint devices on a plurality of communication channels. The mobile collector device efficiently and accurately communicates with and receives data from the endpoint devices while moving throughout a localized geographical area. Aspects of the invention thereby improve the effectiveness of automatic meter reading systems.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An endpoint device for an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a metering interface circuit that obtains utility consumption information via a utility meter;

a transmitter circuit operably coupled to the utility meter interface circuit and adapted to transmit a message based on the utility consumption information;

a first receiver circuit and a second receiver circuit, each of the first receiver circuit and second receiver circuit operably coupled to the utility meter interface circuit; and

to the transmitter circuit;

wherein the first receiver circuit is constructed to receive a specific communication initiation signal in a predefined communications band and to operate using relatively less power;

wherein the second receiver circuit is constructed to receive digital communications in the predefined communications band and to operate using relatively more power; and

wherein the endpoint device is configured to operate the second receiver circuit in response to the first receiver circuit receiving a signal indicative of a communication transmitted for reception by the endpoint.

15. The endpoint device of claim 14, wherein the second receiver circuit includes a channelized FM radio receiver circuit.

16. The endpoint device of claim 14, wherein the first receiver circuit includes a regenerative receiver circuit.

17. The endpoint device of claim 16, wherein the first receiver circuit includes a super-regenerative receiver circuit.

18. The endpoint device of claim 14, wherein the specific communication initiation signal includes a wakeup tone having a predefined frequency.

19. The endpoint device of claim 14, wherein when the first receiver circuit is operating to listen for the specific wakeup signal, the second receiver circuit is kept inactive to conserve power.

20. A method for operating an endpoint device in an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, the method comprising:

automatically obtaining utility consumption information via a utility meter;

automatically operating a first receiver circuit to receive a specific communication initiation signal in a predefined communications using relatively less power; and

in response to the first receiver circuit receiving a signal indicative of a communication transmitted for reception by the endpoint, automatically operating a second receiver circuit to receive digital communications in the predefined communications band using relatively more power.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein operating the second receiver circuit includes operating a channelized FM radio receiver circuit.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein operating the first receiver circuit includes operating a regenerative receiver circuit.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein operating the first receiver circuit includes operating a super-regenerative receiver circuit.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein operating the first receiver circuit to receive a specific communication initiation signal includes receiving a wakeup tone having a predefined frequency.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

keeping the second receiver circuit inactive to conserve power when the first receiver circuit is operating to listen for the specific wakeup signal.