CONSUMPTION METER WITH REMOTE PROGRAM UPDATE
First Claim
1. A system comprising a plurality of consumption meters each arranged for measuring consumption data of a supplied utility, and a data collector for collecting the consumption data, the consumption meters and the data collector being arranged in a communication network, wherein each consumption meter comprises a processor for operating the consumption meter based on program data or by use of program data;
- wherein the data collector is arranged for updating the program data of a group of consumption meters over the network by transmitting update program data as a series of update program segments from a distributor unit to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters;
wherein the data collector establishes a dedicated update session to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters, and wherein segments addressed to the consumption meter in session, are transmitted, and possibly retransmitted, until the consumption meter in session acknowledges receipt of all segments;
wherein, during the update session, a consumption meter to which an update program segment is not addressed, upon receipt of the segment, accepts the segment for storage;
and wherein, during the update session only segments not already stored from a previous session to another consumption meter are transmitted to the consumption meter in session.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a system of consumption meters (2) arranged in a communication network, where program data of the consumption meters can be updated via the communication network. A data collector (3) is arranged for updating the program data of a group of consumption meters over the network. This is performed by establishing a dedicated update session to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters, and transmitting addressed update program segments to consumption meters in session. During the update session with a given consumption meter, any other consumption meter which is within communication range (8) will, if it receives the update segment, store it even though the segment is addressed to another meter. In an update session of a next meter, only segments not already stored from a previous session to another consumption meter are transmitted to the next meter.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system comprising a plurality of consumption meters each arranged for measuring consumption data of a supplied utility, and a data collector for collecting the consumption data, the consumption meters and the data collector being arranged in a communication network, wherein each consumption meter comprises a processor for operating the consumption meter based on program data or by use of program data;
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wherein the data collector is arranged for updating the program data of a group of consumption meters over the network by transmitting update program data as a series of update program segments from a distributor unit to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters; wherein the data collector establishes a dedicated update session to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters, and wherein segments addressed to the consumption meter in session, are transmitted, and possibly retransmitted, until the consumption meter in session acknowledges receipt of all segments; wherein, during the update session, a consumption meter to which an update program segment is not addressed, upon receipt of the segment, accepts the segment for storage; and wherein, during the update session only segments not already stored from a previous session to another consumption meter are transmitted to the consumption meter in session. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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2-21. -21. (canceled)
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38. A method of distributing update program data in a system of a plurality of consumption meters each arranged for measuring consumption data of a supplied utility, and a data collector for collecting the consumption data, the consumption meters and the data collector being arranged in a communication network, each consumption meter comprises a processor for operating the consumption meter based on program data or by use of program data;
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the method comprises; distributing the update program data to a group of consumption meters over the network from a distributor unit to each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters; arranging the update program data as a series of update program segments; establishing a dedicated update session between the data collector and each consumption meter of the group of consumption meters; addressing each segment to the consumption meter in session; and transmitting each segment until the consumption meter in session acknowledges receipt of all segments; wherein, upon receipt of a program segment, determining the address of the program segment and if the program segment is addressed to the receiving consumption meter, accepting the update program segment for storage and acknowledge receipt;
whereas, if the program segment is not addressed to the receiving consumption meter, accepting the update program segment for storage and do not acknowledge receipt;and wherein, during the update session only segments not already stored from a previous session to another consumption meter are transmitted.
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Specification