System for field installation of a remote meter interface
First Claim
1. A method for field installation of a particular one of multiple remote interfaces to a particular one of multiple base stations, comprising steps of:
- transmitting an installation signal in one or more installation signal bursts, said installation signal including a base station identification (ID) corresponding to said particular base station and a particular remote interface ID corresponding to said particular remote interface, said particular base station programmed to recognize only certain recognizable remote interface IDs corresponding to certain recognizable ones of said multiple remote interfaces, respectively, and said base station ID;
decoding signal energy for said installation signal at said particular base station;
recognizing said base station ID in said installation signal; and
designating said particular remote interface ID as one of said recognizable remote interface IDs for designating said particular remote interface as one of said recognizable remote interfaces, thereby enabling communication with said particular remote interface.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system of multiple remote meter interfaces (RMI)s and multiple base stations. Each base station concentrates meter reading information received from several RMIs and passes the concentrated information up through a wide area network to a central office. Each RMI may be field installed to communicate with only one base station. Each base station maintains an identification (ID) list having its own base station ID and the RMI IDs for the RMIs with which the base station is enabled to communicate. To install or reinstall a particular RMI without communicating with the central office, a field installer tool operated by a field installation or repair person establishes communication with the base station using the base station ID, then directs the base station to add the RMI ID for the particular RMI to the ID list.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for field installation of a particular one of multiple remote interfaces to a particular one of multiple base stations, comprising steps of:
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transmitting an installation signal in one or more installation signal bursts, said installation signal including a base station identification (ID) corresponding to said particular base station and a particular remote interface ID corresponding to said particular remote interface, said particular base station programmed to recognize only certain recognizable remote interface IDs corresponding to certain recognizable ones of said multiple remote interfaces, respectively, and said base station ID; decoding signal energy for said installation signal at said particular base station; recognizing said base station ID in said installation signal; and designating said particular remote interface ID as one of said recognizable remote interface IDs for designating said particular remote interface as one of said recognizable remote interfaces, thereby enabling communication with said particular remote interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A base station for receiving scheduled data signals from multiple remote interfaces that are active and an installation signal for installing a particular one of said multiple remote interfaces, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving data signal bursts from said active remote interfaces according to a schedule and receiving signal energy for an installation signal having one or more installation signal bursts, said installation signal including said b as e station ID and a part icular remote interface ID corresponding to said particular remote interface; a memory including an installation code and identification data including a base station ID corresponding to the base station and certain recognizable remote interface IDs corresponding, respectively, to certain recognizable ones of said multiple remote interfaces from which data signals are not being received according to said schedule; and a microcontroller coupled to the memory and the receiver for following instructions in said installation code for recognizing said base station ID and responding to said installation signal by including said particular remote interface ID among said recognizable remote interface IDs, thereby enabling said base station for communication with said particular remote interface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for communicating between multiple remote interfaces and multiple base stations where each of said remote interfaces communicates with only one of said base stations, comprising:
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said mul tiple remote interfaces; said multiple base stations; a particular one of said remote interfaces that is to be installed, the particular remote interface having an associated remote interface identification (ID); an installation tool for transmitting an installation signal in one or more installation signal bursts having a particular base station ID corresponding to a particular one of said base stations to which the particular remote interface is to be installed; said particular base station including;
a memory including an installation code and identification data for certain recognizable remote interface IDs corresponding, respectively, to certain recognizable ones of said remote interfaces and said particular base station ID;
a receiver for receiving data signal bursts from active ones of said multiple remote interfaces and receiving signal energy for said installation signal; and
a microcontroller coupled to the memory and the receiver for following instructions in said installation code for recognizing said base station ID and responding to said installation signal by including said particular remote interface ID as one said recognizable remote interface IDs, thereby enabling said particular base station for said communication with said particular remote interface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification