Apparatus and method for establishing communication from remote sites in a fixed meter reading network

• US 8,471,723 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Inventors: Olson, John A., Lazar, Mark, Laughlin-Parker, Kelly, Malinowski, Michele R. B., Schultz, Randy, Beverung, Ryan M., Saadeh, Theresa
• Primary Examiner(s): Kinkead, Arnold
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tan, Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/792,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20110140909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.06, 340/870.11, 340/870.15, 340/870.28, 340/870.43
• US Class Current: 340/870.01
• 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: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for adjusting a transmission power level of a transceiver (12, 15) at a utility meter data origination site (10). A power level of transmission at the site transceiver (12, 15) is adjusted to an optimum level if an acknowledgement is not received from a network gateway (30) in response to data transmissions from the site transceiver (12, 15). Also, for each unsuccessful transmission period, the amount of metering data is increased in the next transmission period to make up for the failed communication tries. Upon establishing communication with the gateway (30), the site transceiver (12, 15) can receive commands from the gateway (30) that further adjust its power level of transmission to optimize reception at the gateway from a large plurality of utility meter data origination sites (10) within a geographical area served by the gateway (30). The gateway (30) communicates utility metering data through a wireless network (40), such as WIFI, GPRS, POE or CDMA to a data collection center (50) for data processing and billing operations.

Claims

1. A utility meter interface circuit for use in a fixed automatic meter reading network, the utility meter interface circuit comprising:

a site transmitter that transmits a first message, as a first transmission of radio frequency signals from one of a plurality of utility meter data origination sites in a frequency channel to be received by a gate way fixed transceiver;

a site receiver at the one of the utility meter data origination sites that listens for an acknowledgement signal from the gateway fixed transceiver; and

whereupon the site receiver not detecting the acknowledgement signal within a defined time period;

control circuitry for executing one or more retries of transmitting the first message for reception by the gateway fixed transceiver; and

the site receiver again listening for the acknowledgement signal from the gateway fixed transceiver; and

upon the site receiver not detecting the acknowledgement signal within a second defined time, the site transmitter transmitting radio frequency signals on a last retry for reception by the gateway fixed transceiver; and

wherein after three tries to transmit the first message, and upon not receiving the acknowledgement signal, a second message is transmitted from the site transmitter and includes meter reading data for the last sixteen meter reading intervals to make up for non-acknowledged transmissions of the first message.

2. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein after three tries to transmit the first message and three tries to transmit the second message, and upon not receiving the acknowledgement signal, a third message is transmitted from the site transmitter and includes meter reading data for the last twenty-four meter reading intervals.

3. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the control circuitry is incorporated in a CPU operating according a stored control program; and

wherein the site transmitter includes a radio frequency modulation section for modulating meter data signals onto RF signals for transmission; and

wherein the site receiver includes a radio frequency demodulation section for demodulating data from RF signals received from another device within a network.

4. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 3, wherein the site transmitter and the site receiver at the utility meter data origination site are formed by common circuitry.

5. A method of communications between a gateway fixed transceiver and a plurality of transceivers located at respective utility meter data origination sites, the method comprising:

transmitting radio frequency signals from a site transmitter at one of the utility meter origination sites in a first message to be received by the gateway fixed transceiver;

listening at the site transmitter for an acknowledgement signal from the gateway fixed transceiver; and

upon not detecting the acknowledgement signal within a defined time period, transmitting radio frequency signals from the site transmitter in one or more retries of the first message for reception by the gateway fixed transceiver; and

listening at the site transmitter for the acknowledgement signal from the gateway fixed transceiver; and

wherein after three tries to transmit the first message, and upon not receiving the acknowledgement signal, a second message is transmitted from the site transmitter and includes meter reading data for a last sixteen meter reading intervals to make up for non-acknowledged transmissions of the first message.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein after three tries to transmit the first message and three tries to transmit the second message, and upon not receiving the acknowledgement signal, a third message is transmitted from the site transmitter and includes meter reading data for a last twenty-four meter reading intervals.