Utility endpoint communication scheme, such as for sequencing the order of meter reading communications for electric, gas, and water utility meters.

• US 7,109,882 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Simon, Robert, Angelis, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/064,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.11, 700/89
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A method and system for reading endpoints used for tracking consumption of a utility may allow the sequencing of meters/endpoints in a meter reading route, such as a mobile automatic meter reading route. The sequencing may include receiving an indication of a collection of endpoints comprising a meter reading route, wherein each endpoint stores utility consumption data, then executing the meter reading route. Executing the meter reading route may include identifying and reading a first endpoint on the meter reading route, receiving input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route, identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route based on the received input, and reading the identified next endpoint. One or more of these tasks may be performed repeatedly until all the endpoints on the meter reading route are read or otherwise acknowledged as unreadable, etc.

Claims

1. A system for collecting automatically information associated with the use or monitoring of a utility, such as a gas, electric or water utility, the system comprising:

multiple endpoints each providing utility consumption data, wherein the multiple endpoints are grouped into one or more routes, and wherein each of the multiple endpoints includes a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data related to consumption of the utility; and

a mobile data collection system configured to communicate with the multiple endpoints, wherein the mobile data collection system includes;

an input collector configured to collect input data used in determining a next endpoint to be read for at least one of the one or more routes, wherein the input data includes one or more of real-time data, historical data, return signal strength indicator (RSSI) data, latitude/longitude data, sequence data for a particular route, data concerning the current location or velocity of the mobile data collection system, data relating to interfering RF emissions, temperature data, weather data, speed of the mobile data collection system as it moves through a route, data relating to terrain associated with the route, data relating to topology associated with the route, and street layout information;

a sequencing component coupled to the input collector, wherein the sequencing component is configured to process the input data collected by the input collector to determine a next endpoint to read while performing reading of endpoints of the one or more routes, wherein the processed data includes three or more distinct types of data; and

a receiver for communicating with the next endpoint to be read on the route and wirelessly receiving the data related to the consumption of the utility.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the input collector collects input data while a route is executed.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the input collector collects input data before a route is executed.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the input collector collects input data both before and during route execution.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the multiple endpoints is capable of point-to-point communication with the data collection system, and wherein the data collection system and the multiple endpoints each include a transceiver.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a receiver configured to receive route information independent of the input collector, wherein the route information includes a list of endpoints to be read on a specified route, and wherein the order of endpoints on the list does not influence the sequencing component.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the multiple endpoints is equipped with a module for both sending and receiving data over a wireless link.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the data collection system is a mobile meter reading system located in a vehicle.

9. A method for automatically reading endpoints used in tracking information associated with consumption of a utility, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a collection of endpoints comprising a meter reading route, wherein each endpoint stores utility consumption data;

executing the meter reading route, including;

(a) identifying a first endpoint to be read on the meter reading route;

(b) wirelessly reading utility data from the first endpoint;

(c) receiving input data used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route, wherein the received data does not include Global Position System (GPS) data, or includes both GPS and additional data for automatically identifying the next end point to be read on the meter reading route;

(d) identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route based on the received input; and

(e) wirelessly reading utility data from the identified endpoint; and

repeating (c), (d) and (e) until all the endpoints on the meter reading route are read or acknowledged as unreadable.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the identifying of a next endpoint to be read includes:

selecting for reading, one or more endpoints within a range of communication, wherein the selecting is based, at least in part, on the received input;

attempting communication with the one or more selected endpoints;

evaluating the success of the communication; and

selecting a next endpoint for reading based on the success of the communication.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising gathering non-consumption information while performing the meter reading route, wherein the non-consumption data relates to sequencing future routes.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising gathering non-consumption information while performing the meter reading route, wherein the non-consumption data relates to the quality of the utility being delivered or data pertaining to the distribution system itself.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes both real-time and historical input.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes return signal strength indicator (RSSI) data.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes latitude/longitude data.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes data associated with current direction of travel through a route while reading endpoints.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes the type of data to be communicated or exchanged with the endpoint.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes data associated with an environmental factor that affects or interferes with RF communications.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes environmental temperature data.

20. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes data associated with the current velocity of movement through a route while reading endpoints.

21. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes data associated with the current geographic position in a route while reading endpoints.

22. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes data associated with terrain or topology associated with the meter reading route.

23. The method of claim 9 wherein the input used in identifying a next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route includes data associated with roadways traveled to perform the meter reading route.

24. The method of claim 9 wherein the next endpoint to be read on the meter reading route is not fixed and is, instead, based on overall route efficiency prediction given current conditions.

25. A system for facilitating communication sessions between a mobile data collection system and one or more utility meters equipped with modules for sending and receiving data over a wireless link, the method comprising:

means for receiving information associated with a meter reading route;

means for identifying a first meter or first set of meters to be read on the meter reading route;

means for receiving input used in identifying a next meter or set of meters to be read on the meter reading route, wherein the means for receiving is configured for receiving input while the meter reading route is in progress, and wherein the input does not include Global Positioning System (GPS) data, or includes both GPS data and additional data for use in automatically identifying the next meter or set of meters to be read on the meter reading route;

means for identifying a next meter or set of meters to be read on the meter reading route, wherein the identifying is based on the input received by the means for receiving, and wherein the means for identifying is configured for identifying a next meter or set of meters while the meter reading route is in progress; and

means for communicating with the next identified meter or set of meters, wherein the communicating includes receiving meter reading data from the identified meter.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein at least some of the meters communicate with the mobile data collection system using broadcast communication techniques.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein at least some of the meters communicate with the mobile data collection system using wake-up communication techniques.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising storage means for storing at least one of route information, algorithms used in finding efficient sequences for communicating with meters, and collected utility consumption data.

29. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method associated with sequencing an order of endpoints to be read while performing a meter reading route using an at least partially automated mobile data collection system, the method comprising:

receiving information used in determining a probability of successfully communicating with one or more endpoints on the meter reading route; and

if there are multiple candidate endpoints for point-to-point communication during a given time while performing the meter reading route, determining the probability of success of communicating with each of such possible candidate endpoints based, at least in part, on the received information and a current geographic location of the mobile data collection system.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein determining the probability of success includes applying a virtual circle with a configurable radius around the mobile data collection system to analyze the multiple candidate endpoints within a current range.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the method further comprises adjusting the determination of the probability of success based on the current direction of travel, speed of the mobile data collection system, or both.