Home area networking (HAN) with handheld for diagnostics

• US 8,138,944 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Stuber, Michael T. Garrison, Buffington, John
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US11/899,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20080068214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 34087002-87003
• US Class Current: 340/870.03
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Disclosed are handheld or portable apparatus subject matters and associated methodologies for providing local communications to metrology devices within an Advanced Metering System (AMS). The metrology devices may be associated with AC supplied device that are configured with mailboxes for associated battery powered devices or with other home or customer premises area network devices. Battery powered metrology devices may include such as water, gas, and oil meters collocated with electricity meters. Communications between the handheld or portable device may be by way of direct wired or radio frequency connections for providing communications and diagnostic services for home area network coupled components in an Advanced Metering System.

Claims

1. A method for providing local communications to node devices within a network, comprising:

establishing a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices;

configuring the network for bi-directional communications between the central facility and each of the plurality of end devices;

configuring selected end devices to accumulate utility consumption data;

providing a portable device configured for local bi-directional communications with the selected plurality of end devices;

providing selected of the plurality of end devices with memory portions; and

transmitting signals to selected plurality of end devices with memory portions to configure the memory portions as one or more mailboxes for storing messages addressed to selected others of the plurality of end devices and messages from selected others of the plurality of end devices.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting signals, comprises transmitting signals from the portable device.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein transmitting signals comprises transmitting radio frequency signals.

4. A method as in claim 2, wherein transmitting signals comprises transmitting Zigbee signals.

5. A method as in claim 2, wherein transmitting signals comprises transmitting optical signals.

6. A method as in claim 2, further comprising:

providing the portable device with a display portion;

providing the portable device with a manual input portion; and

transmitting signals from the portable device to selected of the plurality of end devices to perform diagnostic services.

7. A method as in claim 6, further comprising:

locating selected of the plurality of end devices within a customer premise; and

configuring selected of the plurality of end devices located within a customer premise to be controlled over the network.

8. A method as in claim 7, further comprising configuring selected of the plurality of end devices as relay devices to relay messages to other of the plurality of end devices.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising configuring selected of the relay devices to accumulate electricity consumption data.

10. A method as in claim 8, further comprising configuring selected of the end devices to accumulate utility consumption data based on consumption of one of water, gas and oil.

11. A method as in claim 8, further comprising transmitting signals from the portable device to selected of the relay devices for relay to end devices located within a customer premise.

12. A method as in claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting signals from the portable device to selected of the devices configured to accumulate electricity consumption to instruct the devices to transmit data indicative of the accumulated electricity consumption; and

displaying indications of the transmitted data on the display portion of the portable device.

13. A method as in claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting signals from the portable device to selected of the devices configured to accumulate utility consumption data based on consumption of one of water, gas and oil to instruct the devices to transmit data indicative of the accumulated consumption; and

displaying indications of the transmitted data on the display portion of the portable device.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein transmitting signals comprises transmitting a message to a mailbox assigned to the device.

15. An advanced metering system, comprising:

a network including a central facility and a plurality of end devices, with said network configured for bi-directional communications between said central facility and each of said plurality of end devices, and with selected said end devices configured to accumulate utility consumption data;

a portable device configured for local bi-directional communications with selected said plurality of end devices; and

a plurality of memory devices respectively associated with selected said plurality of end devices, portions of said memory devices being configured as one or more mailboxes for storing messages addressed to selected others of the plurality of end devices and messages from selected others of said plurality of end devices.

16. An advanced metering system as in claim 15, wherein said portable device is configured to transmit a wireless signal to selected of said plurality of end devices.

17. An advanced metering system as in claim 15, wherein said portable device is configured to transmit a Zigbee signal to selected of said plurality of end devices.

18. An advanced metering system as in claim 15, wherein said portable device is configured to transmit an optical signal to selected of said plurality of end devices.

19. An advanced metering system as in claim 15, further comprising a display portion and a manual input portion associated with said portable device, whereby signals transmitted between said portable device and selected of said plurality of end devices may be used to perform diagnostic services.

20. An advanced metering system as in claim 15, wherein selected of said plurality of end devices are located within a customer premise and are configured to be controlled over said network by one of said central facility and said portable device.

21. An advanced metering system as in claim 20, wherein selected of said plurality of end devices are configured as relay devices to relay messages to other of said plurality of end devices.

22. An advanced metering system as in claim 20, wherein selected of said plurality of end devices are configured to accumulate electricity consumption data.

23. An advanced metering system as in claim 20, wherein selected of said plurality of end devices are battery operated and configured to accumulate utility consumption data based on consumption of one of water, gas and oil.