Smart meter reader
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of transferring data from a utility meter to an electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:
- configuring a reader with a RF module and an inductive module, each electrically associated with a processing device that is further electrically associated with a memory and a power source;
storing route data in said memory wherein said route data includes a plurality of interrogation signal formats wherein one of such interrogation signal formats is required to transmit the an interrogation signal needed to activate a utility meter installed at a specific route location so that such utility meter begins transmitting meter data; and
configuring said reader to select one of said RF module and said inductive module and to use the selected module to automatically transmit an the interrogation signal in response to receiving route location information based on said route data.
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Abstract
The reader (1) for a utility meter is disclosed. The reader (1) is capable of receiving data, in a variety of different protocols, by either inductive coupling or by radio frequency transmission. The reader (1) is a hand-held device which comprises an inductive read nozzle (2), a RF module, a display (4), a keypad (5) a trigger switch (6), a handle (7) a communication port (8), a battery charging interface (9), a memory and a microprocessor. The reader (1) is capable of storing utility usage data in memory and/or downloading utility usage data to a computer through the communication port (8).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of transferring data from a utility meter to an electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:
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configuring a reader with a RF module and an inductive module, each electrically associated with a processing device that is further electrically associated with a memory and a power source; storing route data in said memory wherein said route data includes a plurality of interrogation signal formats wherein one of such interrogation signal formats is required to transmit the an interrogation signal needed to activate a utility meter installed at a specific route location so that such utility meter begins transmitting meter data; and configuring said reader to select one of said RF module and said inductive module and to use the selected module to automatically transmit an the interrogation signal in response to receiving route location information based on said route data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of transferring data from a utility meter to an electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:
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associating a meter transceiver selected from a plurality of transceiver types with a utility meter, wherein said meter transceiver is configured to transmit a meter data signal upon receiving an a properly formatted interrogation signal, and wherein said transmitted meter data signal has a data format specific to the transceiver type selected; configuring a reading device with a RF module electrically associated with a processing device that is further electrically associated with a memory and a power source; storing route data in said memory wherein said route data includes the interrogation signal format information for each of said plurality of transceiver types; configuring said reader to automatically transmit an a properly formatted interrogation signal for said meter transceiver in response to receiving route location information and using at least part of said route data; and configuring said reader to automatically determine the transceiver meter data signal format required to receive the transmitted meter data signal and transfer at least part of said meter data to one of (a) said memory and (b) a remote electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of transferring data from a utility meter to an electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:
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configuring a reader with a RF module and an inductive module, each electrically associated with a processing device that is further electrically associated with a memory and a power source; storing route data in said memory wherein said route data includes a plurality of interrogation signal formats wherein one of such interrogation signal formats is required to transmit an interrogation signal needed to activate one or more utility meters installed at a specific route location so that said one or more utility meters begin transmitting a meter data signal in a predefined signal format; configuring said reader to automatically select one of said RF module and said inductive module for transmitting said integration signal and further configuring said reader to automatically transmit an interrogation signal using at least part of said routed data and in response to receiving route location information; and configuring said reader to automatically determine said predefined signal format required to receive the transmitted meter data signal and transfer at least part of the received meter data to one of (a) said memory and (b) a remote electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification