RF meter reading system

• US 8,390,472 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cornwall, Mark K.
• Primary Examiner(s): JEANGLAUDE, JEAN BRUNER
• Application Number:
  US11/991,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20100007521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,367 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.3, 340/870.02, 340/825.69, 370/335, 370/338, 375/130, 375/133, 375/134, 379/106.03, 379/106.06, 379/106.07
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• 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 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• 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 automatic meter reading (AMR) systems and methods of the present invention facilitate meter reading utilizing one-way and two-way communication with utility meter endpoint devices while at the same time providing an operating regime that conserves energy for long battery life and utilizes the available airwaves for AMR communications efficiently. Embodiments of the invention are applicable in AMR systems employing handheld and/or vehicle-based mobile readers, fixed readers, and combinations thereof. Moreover, embodiments of the invention facilitate smooth transition from mobile AMR systems to fixed systems, and provide for automatic AMR system performance monitoring and automatic adaptability to maintain or improve performance.

Claims

1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader;

a plurality of endpoints, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader;

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints initiates a communication session with the reader as part of a bubble-up operating mode by transmitting a one-way communication; and

wherein the reader selectively initiates two-way communication with individual ones of the plurality of endpoints in response to receipt of a one-way communication from each of those endpoints, and wherein the reader adjusts a bubble-up operation parameter in a first endpoint via the two-way communication.

2. The AMR system of claim 1, wherein the reader schedules a period of increased bubble-up activity of the first endpoint during the two-way communication with that endpoint.

3. The AMR system of claim 1, wherein the reader instructs the first endpoint during the two-way communication sequence to enter a sleep mode for a specified time duration.

4. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader; and

a plurality of endpoints, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader;

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints initiates a communication session with the reader as part of a bubble-up operating mode by transmitting a one-way communication; and

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is remotely configurable, via the AMR system, to schedule a time window during which that endpoint operates at a special bubble-up rate that is different from a default bubble-up rate of the endpoint.

5. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising a reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader on a bubble-up basis, a method of migrating from a primarily mobile network to a fixed network AMR system, the method comprising:

initiating two-way communication between the reader a first endpoint; and

during the two-way communication, instructing the first endpoint to slow a default bubble-up rate.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

during the two-way communication, instructing the first endpoint to increase transmission power level.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

during the two-way communication, instructing the first endpoint to respond to a specified reading time by temporarily increasing a bubble-up rate.

8. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising a reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader on a bubble-up basis, a method of improving communication reliability, the method comprising:

receiving, by the reader, a first message transmitted by a first endpoint at a first frequency;

determining, by the reader, whether the first frequency is suitably centered within a predefined communication channel associated with the first message;

initiating two-way communication between the reader the first endpoint;

during the two-way communication, sending an instruction to the endpoint from the reader, wherein the instruction specifies a frequency correction for the endpoint to implement.

9. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader; and

a plurality of endpoints, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader on a bubble-up basis;

wherein the reader receives a first message transmitted by a first endpoint at a first frequency;

wherein the reader determines whether the first frequency is suitably centered within a predefined communication channel associated with the first message;

wherein two-way communication is initiated between the reader the first endpoint; and

wherein during the two-way communication, the reader sends an instruction to the endpoint specifying a frequency correction for the endpoint to implement.

10. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader; and

a plurality of endpoints, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is adapted to initiate radio frequency (RF) communication session with the reader on a bubble-up basis in a one-way mode, and to respond to a reader-initiated continuation of the communication session in two-way mode;

wherein the reader is configured to measure a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of a first message received from a first endpoint of the plurality of endpoints; and

wherein the AMR system is configured to respond to the measured RSSI by modifying future interaction with the first endpoint.

11. The AMR system of claim 10, wherein the reader is configured to determine whether or not to initiate continuation of the communication session based on the measured RSSI.

12. The AMR system of claim 10, wherein the first message is received by the reader in either the one-way mode or in the two-way mode.

13. The AMR system of claim 10, wherein the reader is configured to issue an instruction to the first endpoint requesting certain data to be transmitted in the two-way mode;

and

wherein the reader determines what data to request in the instruction based on the measured RSSI.

14. The AMR system of claim 10, wherein the reader is configured to issue an instruction based on the measured RSSI for reception by the first endpoint in the two-way mode, the instruction instructing the endpoint to change channels on which to transmit.

15. The AMR system of claim 10, wherein the reader is configured to communicate information to an AMR system controller based on the measured RSSI and wherein the system controller is adapted to modify a mobile collection route or schedule based on that information.

16. The AMR system of claim 10, wherein the reader is configured to communicate information to an AMR system controller based on the measured RSSI and wherein the system controller is adapted to reassign the first endpoint to a different reader.

17. The AMR system of claim 10, wherein the first endpoint is instructed to increase transmission power level in response to the measured RSSI.

18. The AMR system of claim 10, wherein:

RSSI values associated with certain communications are logged; and

the logged RSSI values are analyzed to identify a potential trend or characteristic of a communication arrangement between the first reader and the first endpoint.

19. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising at least one reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with one of the at least one reader on a bubble-up basis in a one-way mode, and in a selectively-initiated two-way mode that is initiated by an AMR system device other than that endpoint, a method of assessing or predicting communication reliability, the method comprising:

measuring channel clarity; and

making a decision by the reader affecting future communication with at least one endpoint based on the measured channel clarity.

20. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader;

a repeater; and

a plurality of endpoints;

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is capable of conducting radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader and with the repeater;

wherein the repeater is adapted to conduct RF communication with selected ones of the plurality of endpoints and with the reader;

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints initiates a communication session with the reader or the repeater via an initial one-way communication;

wherein the reader and the repeater selectively initiate two-way communication with individual ones of the plurality of endpoints in response to receipt of an initial one-way communication from each of those endpoints;

wherein the repeater initiates a communication session with the reader via an initial one-way repeater message; and

wherein the reader selectively initiates two-way communication with the repeater in response to receipt of the repeater message.

21. The AMR system of claim 20, wherein the repeater is battery-powered.

22. The AMR system of claim 20, wherein the reader and the repeater each automatically synchronizes communication activity in time with communication activity of each of the individual ones of the plurality of endpoints with which the reader or repeater selectively communicates in two-way mode.

23. The AMR system of claim 22, wherein the reader and the repeater each automatically synchronizes communication activity in channel hopping to match a channel hopping sequence of the communication activity of each of the individual ones of the plurality of endpoints with which the reader or repeater selectively communicates in two-way mode.

24. The AMR system of claim 20, wherein the reader operates in a sleep mode for a majority of the time.

25. The AMR system of claim 20, wherein the initial one-way communication of each endpoint and of the repeater includes a radio packet comprising essentially an identification of that endpoint or repeater.

26. The AMR system of claim 20, wherein the initial one-way communication of each endpoint or reader includes an indication of a next subsequent channel on which that endpoint or repeater will be listening.

27. The AMR system of claim 20, wherein each endpoint is configured to normally operate in a receive mode during a time window that begins sometime after each message transmission receivable by the reader or the repeater;

and wherein the repeater is configured to selectively transmit an instruction to each endpoint in response to receiving a message transmission from that endpoint, wherein the instruction is transmitted such that it can be received during a corresponding time window.

28. The AMR system of claim 27, wherein the reader responds to the repeater'"'"'s initial one-way repeater message by transmitting an instruction receivable by the repeater, wherein the instruction requests that the repeater transmit a list of endpoints within communication range.

29. The AMR system of claim 27, wherein the reader responds to the repeater'"'"'s initial one-way repeater message by transmitting an instruction receivable by the repeater, wherein the instruction specifies the endpoints with which the repeater should engage in two-way communication.

30. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, a method of gathering consumption information by an endpoint for facilitating collection of different sets of interval data, the method comprising:

obtaining consumption data at a first time granularity; and

storing each obtained item of consumption data in a data structure having multiple tiers of time granularity.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein storing each obtained item of consumption data includes storing the data in a multidimensional table or array, wherein each dimension corresponds to a different time granularity.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein storing each obtained item m a multidimensional table or array, includes storing consumption values in a days×

hours matrix.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising transmitting an interval data request to the endpoint by a reader in the AMR system, wherein the request specifies coordinates of the data structure under which the desired consumption data is stored.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein storing each obtained item of consumption data includes storing either absolute consumption values, or delta values.

35. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system endpoint, comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to a data store, the processor programmed to store a data structure in the data store that has multiple tiers of time granularity, wherein items of consumption data are stored in locations within the data structure corresponding to the time that each item of consumption data was gathered.

36. The endpoint of claim 35, wherein the data structure is a multidimensional array.

37. The endpoint of claim 35, wherein the data structure is a days×

hours matrix.

38. A power conditioning circuit portion of an endpoint, comprising:

a battery;

a voltage regulator;

a set of capacitors; and

a switching network;

wherein the switching network can arrange the set of capacitors a parallel fashion to charge from an endpoint power source; and

wherein the switching network can selectively arrange the set of capacitors in a series fashion to boost a supply voltage to the voltage regulator.

39. An endpoint for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that includes a reader adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with a plurality of endpoints that includes the endpoint, the endpoint comprising:

a radio transceiver and a controller that is configured to cause the endpoint to;

operate in a low-power of mode for a majority of the time, wherein the radio transceiver is inactive;

momentarily exit the low-power mode and operate the radio transceiver to transmit an initial message that includes an identification of the endpoint and consumption information pertaining to that endpoint; and

following a predetermined time delay of at least zero seconds after the initial message is transmitted, momentarily operate the radio transceiver in a receive mode to await any further instruction from the reader.

40. The endpoint of claim 39, wherein the initial message comprises a standard consumption message (SCM).

41. The endpoint of claim 39, wherein the controller causes the endpoint to:

in an absence of any of said further instruction from the reader during the receive mode, return to the low-power mode; and

in response to receiving a further instruction during the receive mode and instructs the endpoint to transmit a requested message;

operate the radio transceiver to transmit a requested message following a predetermined time delay of at least zero seconds after receiving a further instruction; and

operate the radio transceiver to enter into the receive mode to await any further instruction from the reader following a predetermined time delay of at least zero seconds.

42. The endpoint of claim 39, wherein the radio transceiver transmits the initial message using on-off keying (OOK) modulation.

43. The endpoint of claim 39, wherein the radio transceiver operates in a frequency shift keying (FSK) receive mode.

44. The endpoint of claim 39, wherein the controller adjusts an operating perimeter or configuration settings in response to the endpoint receiving the instruction.

45. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that includes a reader and a plurality of endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader, a method of conducting communication between one of the endpoints and the reader, the method comprising:

operating the endpoint to enter into a receive mode and into a transmit mode based on a time schedule followed by the endpoint, wherein the communication session between a reader and the endpoint is initiated by operation of the endpoint in the transmit mode;

deciding, by the reader, whether or not to continue the communication session; and

in response to a decision by the reader to continue the communication session, transmitting an instruction to the endpoint by the reader such that transmission of the instruction is synchronized to the time schedule followed by the endpoint to coincide with operation of the endpoint in the receive mode.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein transmitting the instruction to the endpoint by the reader includes transmitting at least one instruction selected from the group consisting of:

a sleep command, a command requesting a message from the endpoint, and a command to adjust an operating characteristic of the endpoint, or a command achieving any combination thereof.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the command to adjust an operating characteristic of the endpoint includes an identification of a transmission channel for a time slot in which the endpoint is to conduct communication activity.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

receiving the instruction by the endpoint;

processing the instruction by the endpoint; and

In response to the processing, activating the receive mode of the endpoint for a predetermined duration of time.

49. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that includes a reader and a plurality of endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader, a method of conducting communication between one of the endpoints and the reader, the method comprising:

initiating a communication session by the endpoint, including transmitting an initial message as part of a bubble-up event;

receiving the initial message by the reader; and

initiating two-way communication by the reader in response to the initial message, the two-way communication being part of the communication session initiated by the endpoint; and

controlling a further course of the two-way communication by the reader.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

concluding the communication session by the reader, including either foregoing instructing the endpoint to transmit a subsequent message, or instructing the endpoint to operate in a sleep mode.

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

operating the reader to instruct the endpoint to transmit a requested message as part of the two-way communication.

52. The method of claim 49, further comprising operating the endpoint in a receive mode in response to a recurrence of at least one condition selected from the group consisting of:

initiation of the communication session, initiation of the two-way communication, receipt of an instruction from the reader wherein the instruction does not instruct the endpoint to enter a low-power sleep state, or any combination thereof.

53. An automatic reader for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that includes a plurality of endpoints, each being adapted to initiate a radio communication session with the reader by transmitting an initial message, the automatic reader comprising:

a radio receiver circuit that receives the initial message from the first endpoint; and

a radio transmitter circuit that initiates two-way communication in response to the initial message,

wherein the two-way communication is part of the communication session initiated by the first endpoint and wherein the automatic reader controls a further course of the communication session.

54. The automatic reader of claim 53, wherein the reader concludes the communication session by either for going instructing the first endpoint to transmit a subsequent message, or by instructing the first endpoint to operate in a sleep mode.

55. The automatic reader of claim 53, wherein the reader instructs the endpoint to transmit a requested message as part of the two-way communication.

56. The automatic reader of claim 53, wherein the endpoint operates in a receive mode and response to one occurrence of the condition selected from the group consisting of:

initiation of the communication session, initiation of the two-way communication, receipt of an instruction from the reader wherein the instruction does not instructs the endpoint to enter low-power sleep state, or any combination thereof.

57. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system that includes a reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the plurality of endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader, a method of conducting communications, the method comprising:

initiating, by the plurality of endpoints, a communication session with the reader via an initial one-way communication; and

selectively initiating, by the reader, two way communication with individual ones of the plurality of endpoints in response to receipt of an initial one-way communication from each of those endpoints.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising automatically synchronizing communication activity of the reader in time with communication activity of each of the individual ones of the plurality of endpoints with which the reader selectively communicates in two-way mode.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising automatically synchronizes communication activity of the reader in channel hopping to match a channel hopping sequence of the communication activity of each of the individual ones of the plurality of endpoints with which the reader selectively communicates in two-way mode.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein for each endpoint, initiating the communication session with the reader includes transmitting a radio packet selected from the group consisting of:

a radio packet comprising essentially an identification of the endpoint, or a standard consumption message (SCM).

61. The method of claim 57, further comprising indicating a next subsequent channel on which that endpoint will be listening in the initial one-way communication of each endpoint.

62. The method of claim 57, further comprising normally operating each endpoint in a receive mode during a time window that begins sometime after each message transmission receivable by the reader;

and

operating the reader to selectively transmit an instruction to each endpoint in response to receiving a message transmission from the that endpoint, wherein the instruction is transmitted such that it can be received during a corresponding time window.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein operating the reader to selectively transmit the instruction includes transmitting an instruction of a type selected from the group consisting of:

a sleep command, a command requesting a message from the endpoint, and a command to adjust an operating characteristic of the endpoint, or a command achieving any combination thereof.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein operating the reader to selectively transmit the instruction includes transmitting an instruction includes a command requesting a set of consumption information from the endpoint;

and

operating the endpoint to respond to the command by transmitting a long message that includes the requested consumption information.

65. The method of claim 57, further comprising maintaining a database by the reader, the database including endpoint-specific information associated with each of the plurality of endpoints.

66. The method of claim 57, further comprising simultaneously receiving two-way communications from endpoints transmitting on different channels.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising reserving certain time slots in which the reader receives messages sent by endpoints during the two-way communication.

68. The method of claim 57, further comprising instructing individual endpoints to schedule message transmissions such that messages from endpoints that are transmitted on adjacent channels are transmitted for reception by the reader at different reserved time slots.