Automated meter reading power line communication system and method

• US 7,248,158 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Berkman, William H., Kline, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W.
• Application Number:
  US11/327,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20060145834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 340/538, 340/540, 340/541, 340/870.01, 340/870.11, 340/870.02, 340/539.1, 340/538.15, 340/538.16, 340/310.01, 340/310.06, 340/310.11, 340/310.17, 324/110, 324/126, 375/259, 375/257, 375/258, 370/475, 370/485
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/544 Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

An automated meter reading power line communications system is provided, which may include measuring the utility usage of a first customer premises to provide first utility usage data, storing the first utility usage data in memory of a first device, wirelessly transmitting the first utility usage data from the first device, receiving the wirelessly transmitted first utility usage data at a second device coupled to a medium voltage power line, and transmitting the first utility usage data over the medium voltage power line.

Claims

1. A method of providing communicating utility usage data, comprising:

receiving first utility usage data of a first customer premises;

storing the first utility usage data in memory of a first device;

wirelessly transmitting the first utility usage data from the first device;

receiving the wirelessly transmitted first utility usage data at a second device coupled to a medium voltage power line;

transmitting the first utility usage data over the medium voltage power line;

measuring the utility usage of a second customer premises to provide second utility usage data;

storing the second utility usage data in memory of a third device;

wirelessly transmitting the second utility usage data from the third device;

receiving the wirelessly transmitted second utility usage data at the second device; and

transmitting the second utility usage data over the medium voltage power line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first utility usage data comprises power usage data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first utility usage data comprises water usage data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first utility usage data comprises gas usage data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is further coupled to a low voltage power line.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second device is configured to provide communication services over the low voltage power line.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second device includes a router and is configured to route data received wirelessly and data received via the low voltage power lines.

8. The method of claim 6, where the second device is configured to assign a priority to at least some data received via the low voltage power lines that is higher than data received wirelessly.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first utility usage data and second utility usage data are different types of utility usage data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and second device are coupled to different low voltage power lines.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first utility usage data is wirelessly received in a frequency range of about 902-928 megahertz.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring the utility usage of the first customer premises to provide the first utility usage data.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a utility meter.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the user data includes voice data.

14. A method of using a device coupled to a medium voltage power line, comprising:

wirelessly receiving first utility usage data from a first device;

wirelessly receiving second utility usage data from a second device;

receiving user data from a consumer device; and

transmitting the first utility usage data, the second utility usage data, and the user data over the medium voltage power line.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first utility usage data comprises power usage data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second utility usage data comprises gas usage data.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first utility usage data comprises water usage data.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first utility usage data comprises gas usage data.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising according a priority to the user data that is higher than that of the first utility usage data.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first utility usage data and the second utility usage data are different types of utility data.

21. The method of claim 14, where in the first utility usage data is wirelessly received in frequency range of about 902-928 megahertz.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the user data is received via a low voltage power line.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the user data is received wirelessly.

25. A method of using a device coupled to a medium voltage power line, comprising:

wirelessly receiving first utility usage data from a first device;

wirelessly receiving second utility usage data from a second device;

receiving first user data from a first consumer device;

receiving second user data from a second consumer device; and

transmitting the first utility usage data, the second utility usage data, the first user data, and the second user data over the medium voltage power line.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first utility usage data comprises power usage data.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second utility usage data comprises gas usage data.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the first utility usage data comprises water usage data.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the first utility usage data comprises gas usage data.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising according a priority to the first user data and the second user data that is higher than that of the first utility usage data and the second utility usage data.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the first utility usage data and the second utility usage data are different types of utility data.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the first user data is received via a low voltage power line.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the first user data is received wirelessly.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the first user data includes voice data.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the first consumer device and the second consumer device are located in different customer premises.