COLLECTING UTILITY DATA INFORMATION AND CONDUCTING RECONFIGURATIONS, SUCH AS DEMAND RESETS, IN A UTILITY METERING SYSTEM

• US 20130300577A1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cumeralto, Scott, Johnson, Matthew, Cornwall, Mark K.
• Application Number:
  US13/943,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• 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

In a data collection system having a utility data collector configured for remotely collecting utility data, a system includes one or more endpoints. Each endpoint has a utility meter, memory for storing at least utility consumption data from the utility meter, and a radio for transmitting a communication message to the utility data collector. The radio establishes a communication link between the endpoint and the utility data collector, and provides consumption data when a wireless communication channel quality test determines an adequacy of communications from the endpoint and the utility data collector (e.g. using RSSI). The utility meter sets a hold-off timer or other validity check and only performs subsequently received reset requests or other reconfigurations if the timer has expired or the validity check is valid. Other features are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method in a device, comprising:

receiving a first request for a demand reset from a utility data collector system;

based on receiving the first request, performing the requested demand reset and setting a demand reset hold-off timer; and

in response to a subsequent request for a demand reset received before the demand reset hold-off timer has expired, refraining from performing the subsequently requested demand reset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is at least one of:

an endpoint;

or

a meter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the demand reset hold-off timer expires approximately one day after being set, and wherein the demand reset hold-off timer may be user-programmable to other durations.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if a subsequent request for a demand reset is received before the demand reset hold-off timer has expired, setting a flag to indicate receipt of the request.

5. A method in a device, comprising:

receiving a first reset request message from a utility data collector;

performing a first requested reset, wherein the first requested reset requests reconfiguration of at least a portion of the device;

receiving a second reset request message; and

performing a validity check and performing a second requested reset only if the validity check is acceptable.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of performing a validity check comprises setting a hold-off timer based on the first reset request message or the first requested reset, and not performing the second requested reset during a period associated with the hold-off timer.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of performing a validity check comprises comparing sequence counter values.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of performing a validity check comprises receiving a confirming message after successful receipt of utility consumption data by the utility data collector.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the first requested reset comprises requesting peak demand data, performing a demand reset, correcting a clock, changing a time of use (TOU) schedule, or programming a memory location.

10. A method in a device, comprising:

in response to receiving a demand reset request from a utility data collector system, determining if a hold-off timer has expired; and

when the hold-off timer has expired prior to receiving the demand reset request;

reading demand data from a first memory location,

storing the demand data in a second memory location,

deleting the demand data from the first memory location, and

resetting the hold-off timer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to receiving a demand data request from the utility data collector system, transmitting the demand data from the second memory location to the utility data collector system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the demand reset request and the demand data request are received in a single packet.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising, in response to receiving from the utility data collector system the demand reset request or the demand data request, switching from a one-way communication mode to a two-way communication mode.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the demand data from the second memory location is transmitted on a first radio frequency, further comprising:

incrementing an uplink transmission counter;

in response to receiving a subsequent demand reset request from the utility data collector system, determining if the hold-off timer has expired;

if the hold-off timer has not expired and if the uplink transmission counter is less than a predetermined value, reading demand data from the second memory location and retransmitting on the first radio frequency the demand data from the second memory location to the utility data collector system; and

if the hold-off timer has not expired and if the uplink transmission counter equals the predetermined value, reading demand data from the second memory location, retransmitting on a second radio frequency the demand data from the second memory location to the utility data collector system, and resetting the uplink transmission counter.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising, in response to receiving a request from the utility data collector system comprising a new hold-off duration, changing a duration of the hold-off timer to the new hold-off duration.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising, in response to a command from the utility data collector system, performing at least one of:

setting the hold-off timer, flagging a subsequent unexecuted reset, correcting a clock, changing time of use (TOU) schedules, programming a memory location, or changing data stored in a memory location.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

memory for storing utility demand data, the utility demand data comprising peak demand data;

a hold-off timer, the hold-off timer expiring at a pre-determined time after a demand reset is performed;

a receiver for receiving a message from a utility data collector system, the message comprising at least one of a demand data request and a demand reset command; and

a processor configured to, in response to the demand reset command;

determine if the hold-off timer expired prior to receiving the demand reset command, and

when the hold-off timer expired prior to receiving the demand reset command, perform the demand reset.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to, in response to the demand data request, transmit demand data to the utility data collector system.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the memory comprises a first memory location and a second memory location, the first memory location for storing most recent demand data;

the performing of the demand reset comprises;

reading the peak demand data from the first memory location,

storing in the second memory location the peak demand data from the first memory location, and

deleting the peak demand data from the first memory location; and

the demand data transmitted by the transmitter comprises the peak demand data stored in the second memory location.