Telemetry system and method
First Claim
1. A telemetry system comprising:
- an endpoint device configured to operably couple to a host device, the endpoint device comprising;
a receiver normally powered-off and configured to periodically power-on for a first time period and to remain powered on for a second time period in response to a signal strength of signals received during the first time period being at least equal to a threshold level, otherwise to power-off; and
a transmitter configured to transmit an endpoint signal in response to the receiver receiving a wake-up signal during the second time period; and
a reader configured to transmit the wake-up signal and to receive the endpoint signal.
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Abstract
One aspect of the present invention provides a meter reading system. The meter reading system includes an endpoint device and a reader. The endpoint device is configured to operably couple to a utility meter and includes a receiver, a control block, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to periodically turn on for a first time period to measure a signal strength. The control block is configured to keep the receiver turned on for a second time period if the measured signal strength is at least equal to a threshold value so as to enable the receiver to receive a subsequent wake-up message. The transmitter is configured to transmit an endpoint signal in response to the wake-up message. The reader is configured to transmit the wake-up message and to receive the endpoint signal.
72 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A telemetry system comprising:
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an endpoint device configured to operably couple to a host device, the endpoint device comprising; a receiver normally powered-off and configured to periodically power-on for a first time period and to remain powered on for a second time period in response to a signal strength of signals received during the first time period being at least equal to a threshold level, otherwise to power-off; and a transmitter configured to transmit an endpoint signal in response to the receiver receiving a wake-up signal during the second time period; and a reader configured to transmit the wake-up signal and to receive the endpoint signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An endpoint device comprising:
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a receiver configured to be normally powered-off; a controller configured to periodically power-on the receiver for a first time period and to keep the receiver powered-on for a second time period in response to a signal strength of signals received during the first time period being at least equal to a threshold level, otherwise to power-off the receiver until a subsequent first time period; and a transmitter configured to transmit an endpoint signal in response to the receiver receiving a wake-up signal during the second time period, and a reader configured to transmit the wake-up signal and to receive the endpoint signal. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An automated meter reading system comprising:
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an endpoint device configured to operably couple to a utility, the endpoint device comprising; a superheterodyne (SH) receiver configured to be normally powered-off; a controller configured to periodically power-on the SH receiver for a first time period and to keep the SH receiver powered-on for a second time period in response to a signal strength of signals received during the first time period being at least equal to a threshold level, otherwise to power-off the SH receiver until a subsequent first time period; and a transmitter configured to transmit an endpoint signal in response to the receiver receiving a wake-up signal during the second time period, and a reader configured to transmit the wake-up signal and to receive the endpoint signal. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A method of operating a telemetry system, the method comprising:
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maintaining a receiver of an endpoint device in a normally powered-off state; powering on the receiver for a first period time period; measuring a signal strength of signals received during the first time period; maintaining the receiver in a powered-on state for a second time period in response to the signal strength being at least equal to a threshold level; transmitting an endpoint signal from the endpoint device in response to receiving a wake-up signal during the second time period; and adjusting the threshold level based on the measured signal strength in response to a wake-up signal not being received during the second time period. - View Dependent Claims (65, 67)
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66. The method of 64, further comprising:
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increasing the threshold level in response to the measured signal strength being at least equal to the threshold level; and decreasing the threshold level in response to the measured signal strength being less than the threshold level.
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Specification