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Automated meter reading system, communication and control network for automated meter reading, meter data collector program product, and associated methods

  • US 7,304,587 B2
  • Filed: 05/02/2005
  • Issued: 12/04/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An automated meter reading network system comprising:

  • a plurality of utility meters each located at a separate customer site;

    a plurality of sensors each interfaced with and positioned adjacent a separate one of the plurality of utility meters to thereby sense utility usage data from each of the plurality of utility meters;

    a plurality of meter data collectors each positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of utility meters and in communication with at least one of the plurality of sensors interfaced with the separate one of the plurality of utility meters to collect the utility usage data from each of the plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of meter data collectors including a radio frequency telemetry module to transmit the utility usage data and also positioned in radio frequency communication with at least one other of the plurality of meter data collectors;

    a plurality of field host data collectors each positioned spaced apart from the other ones of the plurality of field host data collectors and each in radio frequency communication with a subset of the plurality of meter data collectors to request and collect utility usage data from the plurality of meter data collectors, and each of the plurality of field host data collectors having a memory to store the collected utility usage data, a combination of the plurality of field host data collectors and the plurality of meter data collectors at least partially in cross-radio frequency communication to thereby define a mesh communication network having a radio frequency mode, each of the plurality of field host data collectors and the plurality of meter data collectors defining a communication node in the mesh communication network, each one of the plurality of communication nodes adapted to communicate with other ones of the plurality of communication nodes in the mesh communication network to thereby reduce line-of-site communication problems between each of the plurality of communication nodes;

    a host computer positioned remote from the plurality of field host data collectors and the plurality of meter data collectors, in communication with each of the plurality of field host data collectors and each of the plurality of meter data collectors to provide instructions thereto, and in communication with the plurality of field host data collectors to request and receive the utility usage data and having a memory to store and process the collected utility usage data; and

    meter data collector program product at least partially stored in the memory of the host computer comprising a set of instructions adapted to manage the mesh communication network, and adapted to vary the radio frequency mode between a fixed radio frequency mode and a frequency hopping spread spectrum mode, to thereby enhance mesh communication network performance, the fixed radio frequency mode selected to provide message broadcasting across at least portions of the network when not encountering substantial network interference, the frequency hopping spread spectrum mode selected to circumvent substantial network interference when encountering substantial network interference.

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