Data communication protocol in an automatic meter reading system
First Claim
1. In a system for automatic meter reading (AMR) of utility meters, a method for operating an endpoint to respond to wireless radio-frequency (RF) communications signals from a fixed or mobile reader, the RF communication signals including a preliminary portion and a command portion following the preliminary portion, the method comprising:
- listening for an incoming RF communication signal in which the preliminary portion is indicative of a start of the command portion and includes one of a predefined first sequence and a predefined second sequence; and
detecting a presence of the first sequence or the second sequence in the preliminary portion of the RF communication signal;
responding to a detection of the first or the second sequence wherein;
responding to a detection of the first sequence includes processing the command portion of the RF communication signal; and
responding to a detection of the second sequence includes transmitting a first set of data via the AMR system without necessarily processing the command portion.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic meter reading (AMR) system includes a fixed or mobile reader and an endpoint interfaced to a utility meter. The fixed or mobile reader is capable of communicating with the endpoint via RF communication. The fixed or mobile reader sends a message to the endpoint that includes a response mode direction which directs the endpoint to respond to the reader via either a mobile network mode or a fixed network mode. The AMR system allows implementation of, and migration between, one-way, one-and-a-half-way, and two-way communications system modes without requiring reprogramming, reconfiguring the metering endpoints or going through a reconfiguration cycle before effecting a communication
63 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. In a system for automatic meter reading (AMR) of utility meters, a method for operating an endpoint to respond to wireless radio-frequency (RF) communications signals from a fixed or mobile reader, the RF communication signals including a preliminary portion and a command portion following the preliminary portion, the method comprising:
-
listening for an incoming RF communication signal in which the preliminary portion is indicative of a start of the command portion and includes one of a predefined first sequence and a predefined second sequence; and detecting a presence of the first sequence or the second sequence in the preliminary portion of the RF communication signal; responding to a detection of the first or the second sequence wherein; responding to a detection of the first sequence includes processing the command portion of the RF communication signal; and responding to a detection of the second sequence includes transmitting a first set of data via the AMR system without necessarily processing the command portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A utility meter endpoint, comprising:
-
a central processing unit (CPU); a utility meter interface adapted to acquire utility meter information for the CPU from a utility meter; a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver interfaced with the CPU and adapted to receive and transmit wireless radio-communications via an AMR system; wherein the endpoint is configured to; operate in a receiving mode that is receptive to incoming radio frequency (RF) communications signals from the AMR system that include a preliminary portion and a command portion following the preliminary portion, the preliminary portion being indicative of an AMR system to which the endpoint is responsive; detect a preliminary portion of an incoming communication signal, the preliminary portion including one of a known first sequence and a known second sequence; and determine, based on the preliminary portion, whether to respond to the incoming communication signal, wherein; responding to a presence of the first sequence includes at least operating in a receiving mode that is receptive to the command portion; and responding to a presence of the second sequence includes at least operating in a transmit mode to send a first set of data via the AMR system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification