RF repeater for automatic meter reading system
First Claim
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1. A utility meter for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) network, comprising:
- (a) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;
(b) metering means; and
(c) a controller operatively coupled to said RF transceiver and said metering means, said meter being programmed to receive a message from an AMR node via said RF transceiver and, depending on the content of said message, to respond to said node or repeat said message by sending a modified message in a format that is receivable by another meter in said AMR network;
wherein said meter is operable to receive messages transmitted with a first prescribed signal type and a first data rate, to transmit responsive messages with a second prescribed signal type and a second data rate, and to repeat messages with said first prescribed signal type, and wherein said second data rate is substantially higher than said first data rate.
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Abstract
An automatic meter reading system utilizes repeater technology to access hard to read meters within a fixed network structure. The components of the radio system that are needed for two-way communications are employed without adding significant cost to the meter. Using this approach, each meter in the network has the ability to repeat messages as required.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A utility meter for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) network, comprising:
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(a) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; (b) metering means; and (c) a controller operatively coupled to said RF transceiver and said metering means, said meter being programmed to receive a message from an AMR node via said RF transceiver and, depending on the content of said message, to respond to said node or repeat said message by sending a modified message in a format that is receivable by another meter in said AMR network; wherein said meter is operable to receive messages transmitted with a first prescribed signal type and a first data rate, to transmit responsive messages with a second prescribed signal type and a second data rate, and to repeat messages with said first prescribed signal type, and wherein said second data rate is substantially higher than said first data rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A utility meter for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) network, comprising:
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(a) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and (b) a controller operatively coupled to said RF transceiver, said meter being programmed to receive a message from an AMR node via said RF transceiver and, depending on the content of said message, to respond to said node or repeat said message by sending a modified message in a format that is receivable by another meter in said AMR network; wherein said meter is operable to receive messages transmitted with a first prescribed signal type and a first data rate, to transmit responsive messages with a second prescribed signal type and second data rate, and to repeat messages with said first prescribed signal type; and
wherein said first prescribed signal type is ASK and said second prescribed signal type is FSK.
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6. A method for operating a utility meter used in connection with a fixed automatic meter reading (AMR) network, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a message originated by an AMR node; (b) determining whether the message is to be repeated; (c) if the message is not to be repeated, determining whether the meter must respond to the message and, if so, transmitting a responsive message containing meter data, said responsive message being characterized by a first data rate; and (d) if the message must be repeated, creating a modified message and transmitting the modified message, wherein said modified message is formatted so as to be receivable by another meter in the AMR network, and wherein said modified message is characterized by a second data rate that is substantially less than said first data rate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A utility meter for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) network, comprising:
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(a) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and (b) a controller operatively coupled to said RF transceiver, said meter being programmed to receive a message characterized by a data rate is one of about 1 Kb/s and about 128 b/s from another meter via said RF transceiver, and to retransmit said message by sending a modified message in a format that is receivable by a node in said AMR network, said modified message being characterized by a data rate of about 100 Kb/s. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification