Apparatus and method for collecting meter data
First Claim
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1. A utility meter data collection device having a plurality of operational modes, comprising:
- an antenna;
a utility meter interface receiving utility usage data from a utility meter;
a radio frequency (RF) stage coupled to the antenna and responsive to the utility meter interface; and
a controller in communication with the utility meter interface, the radio frequency stage and a control device,in a first mode, the controller instructing the RF stage to transmit the utility usage data over a control channel of a wireless cellular communication system and in a second mode the controller instructing the control device to perform a predetermined action.
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Abstract
A meter data collection device (20) including an antenna (52), a meter interface (60) receiving data from a meter (64), and a radio frequency (RF) stage (50). The RF stage (50) is coupled to the antenna (52) and is responsive to the meter interface (60). The RF stage (50) is operable for transmitting the meter data over a control channel of a wireless communication system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A utility meter data collection device having a plurality of operational modes, comprising:
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an antenna; a utility meter interface receiving utility usage data from a utility meter; a radio frequency (RF) stage coupled to the antenna and responsive to the utility meter interface; and a controller in communication with the utility meter interface, the radio frequency stage and a control device, in a first mode, the controller instructing the RF stage to transmit the utility usage data over a control channel of a wireless cellular communication system and in a second mode the controller instructing the control device to perform a predetermined action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14)
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5. A communication unit in a wireless cellular communication system, the communication unit comprising:
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a base station interface module receiving utility usage data from a utility usage-data collection device; a network interface module in communication with a telephone network; a switch matrix coupling the base station interface module and the network interface module; and a processor responsive to the switch matrix and in communication with a utility processing center, the utility processing center remotely instructing the utility usage-data collection device to transmit the utility usage data over a control channel of the wireless communication system, and the switch matrix routing the utility usage data to one of the network interface module and the processor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A wireless communication system comprising:
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a first communication unit; a utility usage-data collection device having a plurality of modes of operation, the utility usage-data collection device responsive to the first communication unit and operable for transmitting utility usage data to the first communication unit over a control channel of the wireless communication system; and a second communication unit coupled to the first communication unit, the second communication unit comprising; a first communication unit interface module receiving the utility usage data from the first communication unit; a network interface module in communication with a telephone network; and a switch matrix coupling the first communication unit interface module and the network interface module. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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15. A method for controlling a utility usage-data collection device, the utility usage-data collection device coupled to a utility meter and responsive to a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system in communication with a utility processing center, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, by the utility usage-data collection device, a message over a control channel of the wireless communication system; and based on the message, entering one of a plurality of modes of operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification