System for remote transfer and collection of data, in particular from meters

• US 5,197,095 A
• Filed: 04/12/1991
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Industries Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Industries Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Jurado, Yves, Bonnet, Jean-Loup, Korner, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Jason
• Application Number:
  US07/678,283
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 319/107, 319/106, 319/102, 319/104, 319/105
• US Class Current: 379/106.07
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• 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

A system for remote transfer and collection of data such as quantities of energy of fluid measured by a utility meter. Each meter includes a unit for storing and transmitting date from the meter to a remote data collector via at least one common wire connection. The switch contains a memory having a unique ID code. The switch is selectively closed in response to an interrogation signal bearing the ID code of the switch in order to enable a stream of data to pass from the meter to the data collector, this stream of data including a meter identity indication different from the switch ID code.

Claims

1. A system for remote transfer and collection of data such as quantity of energy or fluid measured by meters, each meter including a data storage and transmission unit, said system comprising:

collection means collected to a common wire connection; and

normally open addressable switch members disposed between said common wire connection and each of said meters, each said switch member including means responsive to a unique interrogation signal sent by the collection means over said common wire connection for closing said switch member and thereby enabling a stream of data to pass from a data transmission unit associated with a meter to said collection means; and

wherein each data storage unit contains data relating to the identity of its associated meter, which data is independent of the address of the associated switch member which address corresponds to the physical address of the switch member, wherein each corresponding data transmission unit includes means for transmitting data indicative of the identity of the meter to said collection means when interrogated.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said common wire connection is constituted by two pairs of electrical wires, a first pair for passing data and a second pair for controlling the switch members, each of said switch member including a power source connected to said second pair of wires for feeding electrical power to its associated meter.

3. A system according to claim 1 in which each switch member is connected to the common wire connection and is connected to its corresponding data transmission unit.

4. A system according to claim 1 in which each switch member is connected to an end of an auxiliary link branching from said common wire connection.