Distributed meter reading terminal

• US 7,209,049 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cahill-O'Brien, Barry, Dusenberry, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr.; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/063,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.11, 370/338, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• 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 distributed meter reading terminal provides meter communication capabilities. For example, an operator may approach one or more meters with a portable first portion of a distributed meter reading apparatus. Communication is established between the first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and the one or more meters so that data can be collected from the one or more meters. Communication is then established between the first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and a second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus, which may also be portable and which may include processing capabilities that allow for the management of collected data. The collected data is then transferred from the first portion to the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus. The first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus may otherwise operate independently.

Claims

1. A distributed meter reading system for use with multiple endpoints forming at least a portion of a utility distribution infrastructure, wherein each of the multiple endpoints collects information associated with at least consumption of a utility or other resource, the system comprising:

a portable computing device including;

a processor;

an operating system executed by the processor;

an application configured for managing utility consumption information collected by the multiple endpoints, wherein the application accesses capabilities of the processor and executes in association with the operating system; and

a storage component for storing aspects of the managed information, wherein the storage component is coupled to the processor;

wherein the portable computing device does not communicate independently with the multiple endpoints;

a portable interface device configured to operate independently of the portable computing device, the interface device including;

an endpoint communication component configured to communicate with at least some of the multiple endpoints in a vicinity of the interface device; and

at least one user interaction component; and

a short-range wireless link for establishing communication between the portable computing device and the interface device, wherein the portable computing device and the interface device are coupled exclusively via the wireless link, and wherein the portable computing device and the portable interface device operate together as a meter reading unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless link comprises a Bluetooth link.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless link comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless link.

4. At an interface device of a distributed meter reading system, a method for collecting information from endpoints of a utility distribution system, wherein each of the endpoints tracks the consumption of a utility or other resource, the method comprising:

receiving an instruction to collect information from one or more endpoints;

collecting the information from the one or more endpoints in accordance with the instruction, wherein the collecting includes communicating with the one or more endpoints, and wherein the collecting is performed via a portable interface device; and

transmitting, via a communication link, the collected information to a portable computing device for processing, wherein the portable computing device does not communicate independently with the one or more endpoints, wherein the portable computing device and the interface device are coupled exclusively via the communication link, and wherein the interface device and the portable computing device otherwise operate a majority of their functions independently of each other.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the instruction to collect information from the one or more endpoints is an instruction from a user.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the collected information includes meter reading data.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the collected information includes meter servicing data.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the communication link is a wireless communication link.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the communication link is a wired communication link.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising performing at least initial processing of the collected information.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the transmitting comprises packetizing the collected information, including adding an internet protocol address to each of the individual packets of the collected information so that the portable computing device can recognize the source of the packets upon receipt.

12. A method for gathering and using information from meters in a utility distribution system, wherein each of the meters tracks the consumption of a utility or other resource over time, the method comprising:

approaching one or more meters with a first portion of a distributed meter reading apparatus, wherein the first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus is portable;

establishing communication between the first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and the one or more meters;

collecting data from the one or more meters using the first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus;

establishing a communication between the first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and a second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus, wherein the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus is portable, does not communicate independently with the one or more meters, and includes processing capabilities that allow for the management of collected data; and

transferring the collected data to the second portion of a distributed meter reading apparatus, wherein the first portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus otherwise operate independently.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus is housed in a protective, electrically shielded case to prevent leakage of electrical noise.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus comprises a commercially available, off-the-shelf portable computer for most of the processing.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising processing the collected information at the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising processing the collected information at the second portion of the distributed meter reading apparatus and transferring the processed information to a head end system associated with the utility distribution system.

17. A computer-readable medium containing a message for facilitating the collection of utility consumption data from one or more utility meters, the message configured for being sent from a first device to a second device, the message comprising:

first information identifying the first device, wherein the first device is capable of at least facilitating input and output with a user and communicating with the one or more utility meters and with the second device;

second information identifying the second device, wherein the second device includes an operating system and computing capabilities that allow for the processing of utility data collected from the one or more utility meters by the first device, wherein the second device is remote to the first device and together with the first device forms a distributed meter communication entity, and wherein the second device does not communicate independently with the one or more utility meters; and

protocol data facilitating a connection between the first device and the operating system of the second device, wherein the protocol data includes data facilitating the transport of the message from the first device to the second device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the connection between the first device and the second device is through a local area network.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the second information includes an internet protocol address.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising utility consumption data.

21. A distributed meter reading system comprising:

at a portable first portion of a distributed apparatus;

means for receiving an instruction to collect information from one or more endpoints of a utility distribution system, wherein each of the one or more endpoints tracks the consumption of a utility or other resource;

means for collecting the information from the one or more endpoints in accordance with the instruction, wherein the collecting includes communicating with the one or more endpoints; and

means for communicating with a portable second portion of the distributed apparatus, wherein the first portion and the second portion operate together as a unit; and

at the second portion of the distributed apparatus;

means for communicating with the first portion of the distributed apparatus via a communication link between the first portion of the distributed apparatus and the second portion of the distributed apparatus;

means for receiving information collected by the first portion of the distributed apparatus; and

means for processing the received information, wherein the second portion does not communicate independently with the one or more endpoints.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein an application running on the second portion of the distributed apparatus can interact with the first portion of the distributed apparatus device as if the first portion of the distributed apparatus is at least partially controlling the application or operating system.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the second portion of the distributed apparatus further comprises means for transferring data.