SOFTWARE-DEFINED COMMUNICATION UNIT

• US 20130099938A1
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Borisov, Vladimir, Thumaty, Sudhir
• Application Number:
  US13/278,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20130099938A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0003 Software-defined radio [SDR] systems, i.e. systems wherein components typically implemented in hardware, e.g. filters or modulators/demodulators, are implented using software, e.g. by involving an AD or DA conversion stage such that at least part of the signal processing is performed in the digital domain digital baseband systems H04L25/00; digital modulation/demodulation H04L27/00; CDMA H04B1/707; TDMA H04B7/2643; image transmission H04N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/546 Combination of signalling, telemetering, protection circuits for remote indication of supply or distribution network condition H02J13/00
• 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

The presently disclosed subject matter relates to communications units. In some uses thereof, such communications units may be respectively associated with utility meters for use in an advanced metering system infrastructure. Present communications units have a medium-agnostic front end module and associated transmitting and receiving functionalities that are programmable to provide simultaneous reception and transmission using multiple protocols over different media and to change to a single protocol functionality upon reception of a valid signal on one of the monitored transmissions. The communications unit may be field programmable for known and previously undefined transmission protocols to provide a future proof device.

Claims

1. A communications unit, comprising:

a protocol-transparent front end module, said front end module comprising a multi-band antenna system, a radio frequency (RF) receiver, and an RF transmitter;

a transceiver coupled to said front end module; and

a baseband signal processor coupled to said transceiver;

wherein said transceiver and said signal processor are configured to cooperate with said front end module so as to simultaneously listen for transmitted signals by using multiple different modulation techniques and to behave as a single protocol receiver once a valid transmitted signal is detected.

2. A communications unit is in claim 1, further comprising a power line communications (PLC) module associated with said front end module, wherein said transceiver and said signal processor are further configured to provide dual simultaneous concurrent RF and PLC communications.

3. A communications unit as in claim 2, wherein said transceiver and said signal processor are further configured to provide bridged communications between an RF network and a PLC network.

4. A communications unit as in claim 1, wherein said transceiver and said signal processor are configured to cooperate with said front end module to simultaneously listen for at least two different modulation techniques.

5. A communications unit as in claim 4, wherein said transceiver and said baseband signal processor are programmable, whereby said receiver may be programmed to receive alternative additional transmission frequencies and modulation protocols.

6. A communications unit as in claim 5, wherein said transceiver comprises a software implementation with a digital I and Q interface.

7. An advanced metering system (AMS), comprising:

a collection engine;

a plurality of endpoint devices, each respectively including a communications unit; and

at least one network configured to provide communications between said collection engine and said plurality of endpoint devices;

wherein said communications unit included with each endpoint device is configured to simultaneously listen for signals transmitted using multiple different modulation techniques and to behave as a single protocol receiver once a valid signal is detected.

8. An advanced metering system (AMS) as in claim 7, further comprising:

a second network; and

a power line communications (PLC) module associated with said communication unit included with each endpoint device;

wherein said at least one network is a radio frequency (RF) network;

said second network is configured for communications as a power line communication (PLC) network; and

said communication unit is further configured to provide dual simultaneous concurrent RF and PLC communications.

9. An advanced metering system (AMS) as in claim 8, wherein said communication unit is further configured to provide bridged communications between said RF network and said PLC network.

10. An advanced metering system (AMS) as in claim 9, wherein said communication unit is programmable, whereby said receiver may be programmed to receive alternative additional transmission frequencies and modulation protocols.

11. A utility meter, comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising a base and a removable cover;

metrology circuitry mounted within said housing; and

a communications unit mounted within said housing;

wherein said communications unit comprises a protocol-transparent front end module including a multi-band antenna system, a radio frequency (RF) receiver, and an RF transmitter, a transceiver coupled to said front end module, and a baseband signal processor coupled to said transceiver; and

said transceiver and said signal processor are configured to cooperate with said front end module to simultaneously listen for transmitted signals by using multiple different modulation techniques and to behave as a single protocol receiver once a valid signal is detected.

12. A utility meter as in claim 11, further comprising a power line communications (PLC) module associated with said front end module, wherein said transceiver and said signal processor are further configured to provide dual simultaneous concurrent RF and PLC communications.

13. A utility meter as in claim 12, wherein said transceiver and said signal processor are further configured to provide bridged communications between an RF network and a PLC network.

14. A utility meter as in claim 11, wherein said transceiver and said signal processor are configured to cooperate with said front end module to simultaneously listen for at least two different modulation techniques.

15. A utility meter as in claim 14, wherein said transceiver and said baseband signal processor are programmable, whereby said receiver may be programmed to receive alternative additional transmission frequencies and modulation protocols.

16. A utility meter as in claim 11, wherein said metrology circuitry and said communications unit are co-located on a common printed circuit board (PCB).

17. A utility meter as in claim 11, wherein said communications unit is coupled to said metrology circuitry.

18. A method, comprising:

simultaneously listening for signals transmitted using multiple different protocols;

detecting a valid signal based received signals; and

decoding and demodulating the received signal based on a detected valid signal.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein detecting comprises detecting a valid preamble signal.

20. A method as in claim 18, wherein such method is used to operate a communications unit.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein such method is used to operate a plurality of communications units that are respectively associated with utility meters for use in an advanced metering system infrastructure.