Prioritized collection of meter readings
First Claim
1. In a metering system that includes a utility meter and a collector configured to exchange data, a method of prioritizing the collection of GDT meter readings, the method comprising:
- at the utility meter, capturing a GDT meter reading that quantifies the consumption of a utility service;
allocating with a data item the captured GDT meter reading an enhanced priority level relative to other transmissions from the meter;
during a reporting window, transmitting a packet containing the GDT meter reading and the data item that identifies the enhanced priority level of the GDT meter reading transmission; and
at the collector, receiving the transmission of the GDT meter reading, identifying the elevated priority allocated to the transmission, and causing the GDT meter reading to be forwarded from the collector to a host computer prior to the processing and transmission of other meter readings.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Generally described, the disclosed subject matter is directed to improving the collection of GDT meter readings. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided for prioritizing the transmission and process of GDT meter readings in an AMR system. In particular, the method includes capturing a GDT meter reading that quantifies the consumption of a utility service at a utility meter. Then, during a reporting window, one or more packets of the GDT meter reading having a data item that identifies the enhanced priority level of the data is transmitted from the utility meter. When a collector receives the transmission, the elevated priority allocated to the transmission is identified. As a result, the collector causes the GDT meter reading to be forwarded to a host computer prior to the processing and transmission of other meter readings.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a metering system that includes a utility meter and a collector configured to exchange data, a method of prioritizing the collection of GDT meter readings, the method comprising:
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at the utility meter, capturing a GDT meter reading that quantifies the consumption of a utility service; allocating with a data item the captured GDT meter reading an enhanced priority level relative to other transmissions from the meter; during a reporting window, transmitting a packet containing the GDT meter reading and the data item that identifies the enhanced priority level of the GDT meter reading transmission; and at the collector, receiving the transmission of the GDT meter reading, identifying the elevated priority allocated to the transmission, and causing the GDT meter reading to be forwarded from the collector to a host computer prior to the processing and transmission of other meter readings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A utility meter configured to report GDT meter readings, comprising:
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a processor; a clock for maintaining a current time; a radio-based communication device for communicating data between the utility meter and a remote device; a computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the utility meter to; capture a GDT meter reading that quantifies the consumption of a utility service over a GDT interval, wherein to capture the GDT meter reading includes using the clock to synchronize the GDT meter reading with a meter reading performed on at least one remote utility meter; allocate the encoded GDT meter reading an enhanced priority level relative to other transmissions from the meter; encode the GDT meter reading into a format that is suitable for network transmission using the radio-based communication device; and during a reporting window, periodically transmit the encoded GDT meter reading at a rate that is more frequent than transmissions allocated a lower priority level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A metering system for collecting GDT meter readings, comprising:
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at least one utility meter configured to capture a GDT meter reading that quantifies the consumption of a utility service over a GDT interval; the said at least one utility meter also configured to allocate the captured GDT meter reading an enhanced priority level relative to other transmissions from the meter; a collector configured to receive a GDT meter reading transmitted by the utility meter, identify the enhanced priority level allocated to the transmission, and process the GDT meter reading for subsequent routing to a host computer in accordance with the identified enhanced priority level; and a host computer operative to track whether a GDT meter reading originating from the utility meter was successfully collected, and if a GDT meter reading originating from the utility meter was not successfully collected, generate and transmit a query via the collector that causes the utility meter to transmit a secondary GDT meter reading. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification