Host-client utility meter systems and methods for communicating with the same
First Claim
1. A method of processing data associated with a plurality of meters, the method comprising:
- at a first device, receiving status information from a plurality of meters;
at the first device, identifying a communication device of a plurality of different types of communication devices operative to communicate via a respective one of a plurality of different communication media, wherein the communication device is connected to a communication module configurable for communicating with each of the plurality of different types of communication devices;
at the first device, formatting the received status information into a format compatible with the identified communication device;
at the first device, sending the formatted status information to the identified communication device for transmission by the identified communication device to a second device;
at the second device, receiving the sent status information from the identified communication device;
at the second device, monitoring the status information received from the identified communication device;
at the second device, identifying occurrence of an event based on monitoring the status information; and
from the second device, communicating an alert upon identification of the occurrence of an event.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A host automated meter reading (AMR) device may communicate with one or more client AMR devices in proximity to the host meter. The host and client AMR devices operate as master and slave devices, respectively, in a host-client AMR device system. The host AMR device may transmit command and control functions to the client AMR devices, and may receive AMR device information from each client AMR device. The host AMR device may also transmit AMR device information from both itself and the client AMR devices over a communications network to a utility. Furthermore, the host AMR device may receive command and control functions from the utility via the same communications network, and may relay those functions to the AMR devices associated with that particular host AMR device.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A method of processing data associated with a plurality of meters, the method comprising:
-
at a first device, receiving status information from a plurality of meters; at the first device, identifying a communication device of a plurality of different types of communication devices operative to communicate via a respective one of a plurality of different communication media, wherein the communication device is connected to a communication module configurable for communicating with each of the plurality of different types of communication devices; at the first device, formatting the received status information into a format compatible with the identified communication device; at the first device, sending the formatted status information to the identified communication device for transmission by the identified communication device to a second device; at the second device, receiving the sent status information from the identified communication device; at the second device, monitoring the status information received from the identified communication device; at the second device, identifying occurrence of an event based on monitoring the status information; and from the second device, communicating an alert upon identification of the occurrence of an event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A system comprising:
-
a first device comprising a universal communication interface functionally coupled to a processor and configurable for communicating with a plurality of different types of communication devices, wherein the universal communication interface is configured to receive status information from a plurality of meters and the processor is configured to identify a communication device of the plurality of different types of communication devices; format the received status information into a format compatible with the identified communication device; wherein the universal communication interface is configured to send the formatted status information to the identified communication device for transmission by the identified communication device to a second device; and a second device comprising a communication interface functionally coupled to a second processor, wherein the communication interface is configured to receive the sent status information from the identified communication device and the second processor is configured to monitor the status information received from the identified communication device; identify occurrence of an event based on monitoring the status information; and communicate an alert upon identification of the occurrence of an event. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification