Systems and methods for utility meter data collection
First Claim
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1. A data collection system comprising:
- a collector having a receiver configured to receive data; and
a plurality of sensors each of which is configured to determine an elapsed time between successive measurements of a predetermined quantity of a consumable commodity and send data comprising the elapsed time to the collector.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for utility meter data collection on distributed metering systems. One aspect of the present invention provides quantity-interval or count-step based collection, reading, recording, and/or transmission of consumption data for distributed utility meter reading systems.
10 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A data collection system comprising:
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a collector having a receiver configured to receive data; and a plurality of sensors each of which is configured to determine an elapsed time between successive measurements of a predetermined quantity of a consumable commodity and send data comprising the elapsed time to the collector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 34)
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5. A data collection system for the collection of data from a plurality of commodity meters comprising:
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a) a plurality of telemetry devices, each of the plurality of telemetry devices being associated with at least one selected meter, each telemetry device including; i) a sensor to successively measure a predetermined amount of a parameter from said meter, ii) a timer to measure the elapsed rime between each successive measurement of said predetermined amount said parameter; iii) a first memory configured to store said elapsed times, and iv) a sending module for sending a packet of a plurality of said stored elapsed times, the packet including an address unique to a certain telemetry device; and b) a plurality of collection devices located remote from said telemetry devices for receiving the packet. - View Dependent Claims (6, 35, 36)
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- 7. A radio communication network for communicating information comprising a plurality of remote data generating stations, each of the remote stations having means for generating data for transmission, control means for modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranged to form said data into a packet of data and to transmit said data upon each successive measurement of a predetermined amount of a consumable commodity.
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8. A method of collecting data related to a metered commodity comprising the steps of:
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successively measuring a predetermined amount of said metered commodity; measuring the elapsed time between each successive measurement of said predetermined amount of said metered commodity; and storing said elapsed time in a telemetry device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of collecting commodity usage data comprising:
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monitoring usage of a commodity at a utility meter; determining the time that elapsed between the measurement of one or more set quantity intervals based on the usage monitored at the meter; and recording data, wherein the data is based on the time elapsed during the one or more set quantity intervals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 32, 33, 38, 41)
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20. A utility meter data collection system comprising:
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a meter-reading device configured to record data associated with intervals, wherein the lengths of the intervals are based at least in part on the quantity of the commodity that is consumed and the data comprises a determined elapsed time for one or more of the intervals, and the meter reading device is configured to send the data to a concentrator; and a concentrator for collecting data from the meter-reading device. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 39)
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26. A method of constructing a consumer commodity consumption profile comprising:
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recording data about a series of set quantity intervals at a utility meter; determining the time that elapsed during each of the intervals; and constructing a consumer commodity consumption profile using the elapsed times for the series of intervals. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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Specification