Wireless area network communications module for utility meters
First Claim
1. A metering system comprising:
- a meter comprising an option board having an isolated power supply and serial communications device; and
a communications module for transmitting data between the meter and a host over a network, comprising;
a connector coupled to the meter for receiving meter data from the meter via the serial communications device and providing said meter data to a controller;
said controller for controlling the operation of the communications module and for converting said meter data into a plurality of data packets having a host protocol representing said meter data and host data and for providing said data to a radio modem;
said radio modem for transmitting and receiving signals representing said meter data and host data to and from the host using said data packets and wireless packet switching along the network;
a power supply coupled to the meter power supply, said controller, and said radio modem for supplying power to said controller and said radio modem; and
an antenna coupled to said radio modem.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications module that permits remote meter reading of a utility meter via a wireless modem that communicates using data packet networks along a communications system, such as ARDIS. The communications module is a microprocessor-based transmitter/receiver which receives data collection requests from a system server, initiates data collection from a utility meter, and reports the data back to a host computer system residing, for example, at a central office. Preferably, session-based communication using the meter protocol is implemented between the communications module and the meter, and packet switching is used between the communications server and the communications module through the network.
256 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A metering system comprising:
- a meter comprising an option board having an isolated power supply and serial communications device; and
a communications module for transmitting data between the meter and a host over a network, comprising;
a connector coupled to the meter for receiving meter data from the meter via the serial communications device and providing said meter data to a controller;
said controller for controlling the operation of the communications module and for converting said meter data into a plurality of data packets having a host protocol representing said meter data and host data and for providing said data to a radio modem;
said radio modem for transmitting and receiving signals representing said meter data and host data to and from the host using said data packets and wireless packet switching along the network;
a power supply coupled to the meter power supply, said controller, and said radio modem for supplying power to said controller and said radio modem; and
an antenna coupled to said radio modem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a meter comprising an option board having an isolated power supply and serial communications device; and
Specification