COLLECTION OF TELEMETRY DATA THROUGH A METER READING SYSTEM

• US 20110074598A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Ogle, James P., Cornwall, Mark K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,510,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• 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 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• 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: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and related methodologies for transmitting data related to utility conditions between monitoring locations and a central and/or data collection facility using a meter reading system. Collection of both corrected and uncorrected data from meters is achieved to thereby provide backup data in case of corrector failure. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides for the collection of telemetry data and alarms from correctors and recorders over a meter reading system. Two-way communications over a meter reading system is also provided to permit data transmission to selected endpoint devices.

Claims

1. A telemetry system for transmitting data related to operational conditions and utility usage between user locations and a centralized data collection facility, said system comprising:

a plurality of endpoint devices associated with respective locations of utility usage, for transmitting utility usage data associated with its respective location, with at least selected of said endpoint devices respectively further including an adjunct data module for receipt of adjunct data;

a plurality of telemetry devices respectively associated with said adjunct data modules of said selected endpoint devices, for monitoring preselected operational conditions at such respective telemetry devices and providing adjunct data thereon to its associated adjunct data module for transmission by its associated selected endpoint device;

a main communications network;

at least one collector, for communications with said endpoint and telemetry devices and said main communications network; and

a head end processor for communications with said main communications network, such that utility usage data and adjunct data are collected and communicated to said head end processor via said main communications network.

2. A telemetry system as in claim 1, wherein:

said selected endpoint devices further include memory means for storage of uncorrected utility usage at their respective associated locations;

said telemetry devices comprise correctors for a gas AMI network and said adjunct data comprises corrected utility usage data; and

said selected endpoint devices periodically forward both uncorrected and corrected utility usage data to said head end processor.

3. A telemetry system as in claim 1, wherein said telemetry devices respectively include alarm means for forwarding alarm signaling whenever monitored conditions thereat fall outside set parameters.

4. A telemetry system as in claim 1, wherein:

said main communications network is bidirectional;

said telemetry devices comprise correctors for a gas AMI network and said adjunct data comprises corrected utility usage data;

said selected endpoint devices further include memory means for storage of uncorrected utility usage and corrected utility usage data at their respective associated locations;

said telemetry devices respectively include alarm means for forwarding alarm signaling whenever monitored conditions thereat fall outside set alarm parameters;

said selected endpoint devices are responsive to periodically forwarded commands thereto via said bidirectional main communications network for transmitting both uncorrected and corrected utility usage data to said head end processor; and

said telemetry devices are responsive to forwarded commands thereto via said bidirectional main communications network for changing the setting of alarm parameters.

5. A telemetry system as in claim 1, wherein:

said utility usage comprises gas consumption; and

at least selected of said telemetry devices monitor at least one of temperature and pressure conditions at an associated endpoint device location, whereby an associated gas utility can correct gas usage billing based on micro-climactic conditions at an associated endpoint device location.

6. A telemetry system as in claim 5, wherein at least selected of said telemetry devices comprise voltage measurement devices for identifying faults in associated cathodic protection apparatus.

7. A telemetry system as in claim 6, wherein:

said head end processor further includes data management functionality, for storing and processing gas usage data; and

said main communications network comprises one of a WAN, a wireless network, and the Internet.

8. A bidirectional gas AMI telemetry network for transmitting data related to corrected and uncorrected gas usage between user locations and a centralized data collection facility, said telemetry network comprising:

a plurality of endpoint devices for monitoring and transmitting uncorrected gas usage data associated with its respective location;

a plurality of corrector telemetry devices, respectively associated with at least selected of said endpoint device locations, for monitoring gas usage data and at least one preselected physical condition at such telemetry device, and for providing corrected gas usage data to its associated endpoint device for storage and transmission thereby;

a main communications network;

a plurality of data collection devices, for bidirectional communications with selected of said endpoint and telemetry devices and said main communications network; and

a centralized data collection facility in bidirectional communication with said main communications network, for receiving and processing corrected and uncorrected gas usage data from said at least selected of said endpoint device locations.

9. A network as in claim 8, wherein said corrector telemetry devices monitor at least one of temperature and pressure conditions at such telemetry device, whereby an associated gas utility can obtain corrected gas usage data based on micro-climactic conditions.

10. A network as in claim 8, wherein:

said bidirectional communications of said data collection devices comprise wireless communications; and

at least selected of said endpoint devices include battery-operated power supplies.

11. A network as in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of protection system telemetry devices respectively comprising voltage measurement devices for identifying faults in associated cathodic protection apparatus, whereby said telemetry network combines cost effective system integrity functionality with gas usage monitoring for gas utilities.

12. A network as in claim 8, wherein:

said network further includes a plurality of protection system telemetry devices respectively comprising voltage measurement devices for identifying faults in associated cathodic protection apparatus;

selected of said corrector telemetry devices monitor temperature and pressure conditions at selected of said endpoint device locations, for use in correcting gas usage billing based on micro-climactic conditions;

said bidirectional communications of said data collection devices comprise wireless communications; and

said telemetry network further includes meter data management means associated with said centralized data collection facility, for storing and processing data received via said telemetry system, whereby usage data and gas delivery system integrity are efficiently monitored via an integrated system.

13. A network as in claim 8, wherein said corrector telemetry devices respectively include alarm means for forwarding alarm signaling whenever monitored conditions thereat fall outside set parameters.

14. A network as in claim 13, wherein:

said main communications network comprises one of a WAN, a wireless network, and the internet; and

said corrector telemetry devices are responsive to changes to alarm parameters sent thereto via said bidirectional main communications network.

15. A method for gathering corrected and uncorrected data for utility measurements at utility usage points, comprising:

determining uncorrected utility usage data for a plurality of endpoint devices associated with respective locations of utility usage;

monitoring for preselected operational conditions at selected of such utility usage locations, and creating corrected utility usage data based on such monitored conditions;

transmitting the corrected and uncorrected utility usage data to at least one collector; and

communicating such data to a head end processor via such collector and a main communications network, such that both corrected and uncorrected utility usage data are collected and communicated to a central location for processing, to permit efficient monitoring of utility usage and associated conditions by a utility provider.

16. A method as in claim 15, further including monitoring for a plurality of preselected operational conditions at selected utility usage locations and creating data related thereto.

17. A method as in claim 15, further including conducting data management at the central location, for storing and processing gas usage data.

18. A method as in claim 15, wherein:

the utility measurements comprise monitoring gas consumption;

the operational conditions include at least one of temperature and pressure conditions at an associated gas consumption location; and

central location processing includes correcting gas usage billing based on micro-climactic conditions at an associated gas consumption location.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein:

the operational conditions further include voltage measurements for identifying faults in cathodic protection apparatus associated with a gas pipeline of a gas utility provider; and

such method further includes providing alarms to the central location based on comparisons of monitored operational conditions with alarm parameters.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein:

the main communications network comprises one of a WAN, a wireless network, and the internet; and

the main communications network is bidirectional so that changes to alarm parameters can be sent from the central location to other components associated with the endpoint devices.