Meter right sizing

• US 8,269,650 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cornwall, Mark K., Cahill-O'Brien, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Lauture, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/759,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20110254696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/505, 340/870.28, 340/605, 340/825.69, 340/870.04, 370/464, 370/509, 370/470, 370/330, 370/465, 702/62, 702/63, 702/60, 702/61, 702/45, 702/50
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• 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

The present subject matter relates to apparatus and methodologies for determining an appropriate size for a consumption measurement meter to be installed for a particular application, and/or for validating the appropriateness of a previously installed meter. A remotely controllable endpoint is associated with a consumption measure meter, which may be a water meter. Upon remote command to begin a measurement period, the endpoint will store data representing different levels of consumption during different time intervals over a period of time. The time intervals, length of time for recording data, and start time for recording data, may be remotely selected. Analysis of collected data with reference to known characteristics of available consumption measuring meters permits selection and/or validation of an appropriately sized meter for a particular application.

Claims

1. A method for selecting an appropriately sized meter for use in a selected application, comprising;

associating an encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT) endpoint with a consumption measuring meter;

configuring the endpoint to record consumption data for a selectable time period over selectable length time intervals;

comparing recorded data with known meter specifications; and

selecting an appropriate meter based on the known meter specifications.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating further comprises associating a remotely controllable endpoint with a consumption measuring meter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of configuring further comprises configuring the endpoint to respond to a remotely transmitted command to record consumption data.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of configuring further comprises configuring the endpoint to respond to a remotely transmitted command to select the length of the time interval.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of configuring further comprises configuring the endpoint to select the length of the time interval as an integral portion of one hour.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of configuring further comprises configuring the endpoint to select the length of the time interval as one of 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, and 60 minutes.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of configuring further comprises configuring the endpoint to respond to a remotely transmitted command to select the length of time for recording consumption data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of configuring further comprises configuring the endpoint to select the length of time for recording consumption up to 63 days.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of configuring further comprises configuring the endpoint to respond to a remotely transmitted command to select the start time for recording consumption data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of configuring further comprises configuring the endpoint to select the start time for recording consumption up to 63 days after configuring the endpoint.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the endpoint to sort recorded data based on ranges of consumption; and

selecting an appropriate meter favoring smaller recorded consumption ranges.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of configuring the endpoint to sort recorded data further comprises configuring the endpoint to sort recorded data based on six fixed ranges corresponding to percentage ranges of a maximum flow rate.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the six fixed ranges correspond to 0%, >

0%-25%, >

25%-50%, >

50%-75%, >

75%-100%, and >

100%.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating comprises associating an encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT) endpoint with a water meter.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting an appropriate meter includes validating selection of a previously selected meter.

16. A method for determining an appropriate size for a consumption measurement meter to be installed for a particular application, comprising:

associating a remotely controllable endpoint with a consumption measure meter;

under remote command, beginning a measurement period using such endpoint, with such endpoint operative to store data representing different levels of consumption during different time intervals over a period of time, all selected remotely;

collecting and analyzing such stored data with reference to known characteristics of available consumption measuring meters; and

based on such analysis, selecting an appropriately sized meter for a particular application.

17. Apparatus for permitting selection of an appropriately sized meter for use in a selected application, comprising;

a consumption measuring meter; and

an encoder-receiver-transmitter (ERT) endpoint configured to record consumption data for a selectable time period over selectable length time intervals,

whereby recorded data read from said endpoint may be compared with known meter specifications to permit selecting an appropriate meter based on known meter specifications.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the endpoint is configured to enable remote activation of a consumption usage measurement period, to remotely configure measurement intervals, and to remotely select measurement time periods.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the endpoint is configured to sort recorded data based on ranges of consumption.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the endpoint is configured to sort recorded data based on fixed ranges corresponding to percentage ranges of a maximum flow rate.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said fixed ranges comprise six fixed ranges corresponding to 0%, >

0%-25%, >

25%-50%, >

50%-75%, >

75%-100%, and >

100%.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said consumption measuring meter is a water meter.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further configured so that recorded data read from said endpoint may be compared with known meter specifications to permit validation of a previously selected meter as an appropriate meter based on such known meter specifications.