Automated meter reading system, communication and control network for automated meter reading, meter data collector, and associated methods
First Claim
1. An automated meter reading network system comprising:
- a plurality of utility meters each one positioned remote from the other ones of the plurality of utility meters;
a plurality of sensors interfaced with each of the plurality of meters so that at least one of the plurality of sensors interfaces with and is positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of meters to thereby sense utility usage data from each of the plurality of meters;
a communication network;
a plurality of meter data collectors positioned to collect utility usage data from each of the plurality of sensors so that at least one of the plurality of meter data collectors is positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of utility meters and in communication with at least one of the plurality of sensors which interfaces with the at least one of the plurality of utility meters, the plurality of meter data collectors also being adapted to be positioned in communication with each other through the communication network so that each of the plurality of meter data collectors defines a communication node in the communication network and the plurality of meter data collectors defines a plurality of communication nodes in the network; and
a host computer positioned remote from the plurality of meter data collectors at a utility central station and in communication with each of the plurality of meter data collectors in the communication network so that each one of the plurality of meter data collectors are adapted to communicate with other ones of the plurality of meter data collectors in the communication network, the host computer including network software including instructions that when executed by the host computer cause the host computer to perform the operations of determining a preferred polling sequence route responsive at least in part to a strength of communication signal between the host computer and each of the plurality of meter data collectors and between each of the plurality of meter data collectors along the determined polling sequence route to thereby reduce line-of-site communication problems between each of the plurality of meter data collectors and the host computer, and sending a message packet including routing data to route the message packet along the preferred polling sequence route between the host computer and a selected meter data collector defining a destination node and along the preferred polling sequence route between the destination node and the host computer, the message packet collecting strength of communication signal data between each node along the preferred polling sequence route to the destination node and along the preferred polling sequence route to the host computer;
the network software including an autosequencer positioned to initiate systematic polling of the plurality of meter data collectors whereby each of the plurality of meter data collectors is individually attempted to be polled by the host computer to determine a strength of communication signal between the host computer and each of the plurality of meter data collectors, and whereby each of the plurality of meter data collectors also attempt to communicate with each other responsive to the autosequencer to determine a strength of communication signal between one of the plurality of meter data collectors and another one of the plurality of meter data collectors, the autosequencer further positioned to determine a communication sequence to each of the plurality of meter data collectors responsive to the strength of communication signal between the host computer and each of the plurality of meter data collectors and responsive to the strength of communication signal between each of the plurality of meter data collectors to define the preferred polling sequence route to each of the plurality of meter data collectors from the host computer, and to update the preferred polling sequence route responsive to strength of communication signal data gathered by each message packet after each subsequent polling sequence to allow the preferred polling sequence route to vary over time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated meter reading system, communication and control for automated meter reading, a meter data collector, and associated methods are provided. The system includes at least one utility meter, at least one meter sensor interfaced with the utility meter, a meter data collector positioned adjacent the utility meter and positioned to receive data from the at least one sensor, and a remote automatic meter reading control center positioned to receive data from the collector such as through RF or other types of communication to gather and process usage reading data. Meter usage data is obtained by the collector from the meter sensor, date and time stamped, and stored in the collector until directly transmitted to the control center or a substation if within range and not blocked or impeded by a physical structure or other obstacle. If the collector is not in range, then the data is forwarded to another collector associated with a location closer to the control center or substation.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An automated meter reading network system comprising:
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a plurality of utility meters each one positioned remote from the other ones of the plurality of utility meters; a plurality of sensors interfaced with each of the plurality of meters so that at least one of the plurality of sensors interfaces with and is positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of meters to thereby sense utility usage data from each of the plurality of meters; a communication network; a plurality of meter data collectors positioned to collect utility usage data from each of the plurality of sensors so that at least one of the plurality of meter data collectors is positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of utility meters and in communication with at least one of the plurality of sensors which interfaces with the at least one of the plurality of utility meters, the plurality of meter data collectors also being adapted to be positioned in communication with each other through the communication network so that each of the plurality of meter data collectors defines a communication node in the communication network and the plurality of meter data collectors defines a plurality of communication nodes in the network; and a host computer positioned remote from the plurality of meter data collectors at a utility central station and in communication with each of the plurality of meter data collectors in the communication network so that each one of the plurality of meter data collectors are adapted to communicate with other ones of the plurality of meter data collectors in the communication network, the host computer including network software including instructions that when executed by the host computer cause the host computer to perform the operations of determining a preferred polling sequence route responsive at least in part to a strength of communication signal between the host computer and each of the plurality of meter data collectors and between each of the plurality of meter data collectors along the determined polling sequence route to thereby reduce line-of-site communication problems between each of the plurality of meter data collectors and the host computer, and sending a message packet including routing data to route the message packet along the preferred polling sequence route between the host computer and a selected meter data collector defining a destination node and along the preferred polling sequence route between the destination node and the host computer, the message packet collecting strength of communication signal data between each node along the preferred polling sequence route to the destination node and along the preferred polling sequence route to the host computer; the network software including an autosequencer positioned to initiate systematic polling of the plurality of meter data collectors whereby each of the plurality of meter data collectors is individually attempted to be polled by the host computer to determine a strength of communication signal between the host computer and each of the plurality of meter data collectors, and whereby each of the plurality of meter data collectors also attempt to communicate with each other responsive to the autosequencer to determine a strength of communication signal between one of the plurality of meter data collectors and another one of the plurality of meter data collectors, the autosequencer further positioned to determine a communication sequence to each of the plurality of meter data collectors responsive to the strength of communication signal between the host computer and each of the plurality of meter data collectors and responsive to the strength of communication signal between each of the plurality of meter data collectors to define the preferred polling sequence route to each of the plurality of meter data collectors from the host computer, and to update the preferred polling sequence route responsive to strength of communication signal data gathered by each message packet after each subsequent polling sequence to allow the preferred polling sequence route to vary over time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An automated meter reading network system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors adapted to be interfaced with each of a plurality of utility meters each positioned remote from another one of the plurality of utility meters so that at least one of the plurality of sensors interfaces with and is positioned adjacent at least one of the plurality of meters to thereby sense utility usage data from each of the plurality of meters; a plurality of meter data collectors positioned to collect utility usage data from each of the plurality of sensors so that at least one of the plurality of meter data collectors is positioned in communication with at least one of the plurality of sensors, the plurality of meter data collectors also being adapted to be positioned in communication with each other through the communication network so that each of the plurality of meter data collectors defines one of a plurality of meter data collectors in a communication network; and a host computer positioned remote from the plurality of meter data collectors and in communication with each of the plurality of meter data collectors so that each one of the plurality of meter data collectors are adapted to communicate with other ones of the plurality of meter data collectors, positioned to poll each of the plurality of meter data collectors, positioned to determine a respective preferred multi-node communication sequence path between the host computer and a selected meter data collector defining a destination node including at least one other of the polled meter data collectors defining at least one intermediate routing node located between the host computer and the destination node, and positioned to send a message packet including routing data to route the message packet along the preferred communication sequence path between the host computer and the destination node via the at least one intermediate routing node, the message packet configured to rakingly collect respective utility usage data from both the destination node and the at least one intermediate routing node located along the preferred communication sequence path so that utility usage data is collected by the message packet from both the destination node and the at least one intermediate routing node along the preferred communication sequence path for delivery to the host computer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A meter data collector to interface with a utility meter, the meter data collector including:
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a stationary housing adapted to contain a utility meter; a sensor positioned to sense utility usage data from the utility meter; a high power transceiver associated with the housing to transmit utility usage data from the meter data collector and to receive communications remote from the stationary housing in a medium to high range; a collector controller positioned within the housing to control data communication to and from the high power transceiver and to provide bidirectional radio frequency communication between an adjacent at least one other meter data collector to form a communication network, and to control collecting of local utility usage data from the sensor responsive to a remote command from a requesting remote host computer; and a memory positioned within the stationary housing and associated with and in communication with the controller to store data therein, the memory including network software to receive a message packet including a payload carrying utility usage data from the at least one other meter data collector, to combine the local utility usage data with the utility usage data from the at least one other meter data collector, and to communicate the utility usage data remotely through the communication network to the requesting remote host computer along a route determined by the requesting remote host computer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification