VERSATILE RADIO PACKETING FOR AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A utility meter endpoint for use in an encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT)-compatible automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:
- a utility meter interface that receives utility meter information from a utility meter;
a radio that communicates with the AMR system;
a processor operatively coupled with the utility meter interface and with the radio, wherein the processor converts the utility meter information into packets for transmission by the radio, wherein the packets include a first type of packet that has;
a packet preamble portion that has a frame synchronization bit sequence, a packet type identifier field, and a packet length field, wherein the frame synchronization bit sequence is recognizable by an AMR system receiver that detects a preamble having a value of 0x16A3;
a packet body portion that includes at least an endpoint serial number field and a message; and
a packet validation portion;
wherein the packet body portion has a length that is variable by the processor and the packet length field is set by the processor to represent the length.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic meter reading (AMR) system utilizes versatile radio packets that are recognizable by AMR system receivers capable of receiving conventional interval data message (IDM) radio packets. A versatile radio packet includes a packet preamble portion, a packet body portion, and a packet validation portion. The packet preamble portion has a frame synchronization bit sequence that is recognizable by existing or conventional encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT)-compatible AMR system receivers, such as a bit sequence equal to 0x16A3. The packet preamble portion also has a packet type identifier field and a packet length field. The packet body portion includes at least an endpoint serial number field and a message, where at least the message has a variable length. Optionally, the message includes a message type identifier field and a message value field that can have a plurality of sub-fields. The AMR system may use message type identifiers optionally present in the versatile radio packets to filter, or discriminate between, certain message types at the reader level. Versatile radio packets can enable endpoints and other devices in the AMR system to transmit a variety of new information to existing AMR infrastructure without having to conduct a significant infrastructure overhaul of the AMR system.
-
Citations
40 Claims
-
1. A utility meter endpoint for use in an encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT)-compatible automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:
-
a utility meter interface that receives utility meter information from a utility meter; a radio that communicates with the AMR system; a processor operatively coupled with the utility meter interface and with the radio, wherein the processor converts the utility meter information into packets for transmission by the radio, wherein the packets include a first type of packet that has; a packet preamble portion that has a frame synchronization bit sequence, a packet type identifier field, and a packet length field, wherein the frame synchronization bit sequence is recognizable by an AMR system receiver that detects a preamble having a value of 0x16A3; a packet body portion that includes at least an endpoint serial number field and a message; and a packet validation portion; wherein the packet body portion has a length that is variable by the processor and the packet length field is set by the processor to represent the length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of receiving a versatile radio packet over a communication channel in an encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT)-compatible automatic meter reading (AMR) system, the method comprising:
-
monitoring the communication channel for incoming data having a bit sequence that substantially includes a frame synchronization sequence having a value of 0x16A3; in response to detecting of the frame synchronization sequence; processing a 1-byte packet type ID field that immediately follows the frame synchronization sequence; in response to detecting of the frame synchronization sequence and a packet type ID field having a value corresponding to a versatile radio packet; processing a packet length field that immediately follows the packet ID field; processing a message type identifier field that immediately follows the length field; processing an endpoint ID field that immediately follows the message type ID field; processing a serial number field that immediately follows the endpoint ID field; and processing a message value field having a length corresponding to a remaining packet length value represented by the packet length field; such that individual information items carried in the versatile radio packet are read to obtain utility meter-related data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An reader configured to receive a versatile radio packet over a communication channel in an encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT)-compatible automatic meter reading (AMR) system, the reader comprising:
-
a receiver interfaced with the communication channel and having a controller, the controller including; means for monitoring the communication channel to detect incoming data having a bit sequence that substantially includes a frame synchronization sequence having a value of 0x16A3 and, in response to a detection of the frame synchronization sequence, process a 1-byte packet type ID field that immediately follows the frame synchronization sequence; means for processing a versatile radio packet in response to a detection of the frame synchronization sequence and a packet type ID field having a value corresponding to the versatile radio packet, including; means for processing a packet length field that immediately follows the packet ID field; means for processing a message type identifier field that immediately follows the length field; means for processing an endpoint ID field that immediately follows the message type ID field; means for processing a serial number field that immediately follows the endpoint ID field; and means for processing a message value field having a length corresponding to a remaining packet length value represented by the packet length field; wherein the controller causes the reader to read individual information items carried in the versatile radio packet to obtain utility meter-related data. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. In an encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT)-based automatic meter reading (AMR) system that utilizes interval daily messaging (IDM) wherein IDM packets have a frame synchronization sequence field of 0x16A3, followed by a packet type ID field, a method of configuring the AMR system to enable receiving a versatile message packet, the method comprising:
configuring a reader to respond to a packet type ID that corresponds to a versatile message packet such that the reader processes a length field that follows the packet ID field to determine a remaining length of the versatile message packet. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
-
32. A method of data discrimination in a utility meter reading system having a plurality of utility meter endpoints, each endpoint wirelessly transmitting utility meter data to at least one reader to be relayed to a processing center, the method comprising:
-
receiving, by a reader, data from an endpoint, wherein the data includes at least one type indicator; receiving, by the reader, type-discriminating information that is indicative of a type of data to be relayed to the processing center; identifying, by the reader, a first item of utility meter data to be relayed to the processing center based on the type-discriminating information; and relaying, by the reader, the first item of utility meter data to the processing center. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system reader that receives utility consumption information from a plurality of utility meter endpoints via an AMR communication channel, wherein the utility consumption information includes a plurality of data types, the reader being configured to relay certain data items from the utility consumption information to a processing center, the reader comprising:
-
a radio circuit coupled to the communication channel; and a controller coupled to the radio circuit, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the reader to; receive type-discriminating information, wherein the type-discriminating information is indicative of a type of data to be relayed to the processing center; identify a first item of utility meter data to be relayed to the processing center based on the type-discriminating information; and relay the first item of utility meter data to the processing center. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
-
Specification