Time-divided communications in a metering system
First Claim
1. An endpoint operative to perform a method for exchanging time-divided communications with a remote device, the method comprising:
- within a predefined frequency band, transmitting a standard meter reading having data defined in accordance with a metering protocol;
after a first period of time defined in the metering protocol has elapsed, activating a receiver to listen for a message on a designated channel that is known by the remote device;
receiving a message from the remote device having a command to execute instructions, wherein the message includes a data item that indicates whether the command is designated as a linked command;
transmitting a response message responsive to the command; and
when the command is designated as a linked command, activating the receiver after a second period of time defined in the metering protocol has elapsed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, system, and related apparatus for performing time-divided communications in a metering environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, an endpoint (e.g., ERT) is provided that implements a method for communicating messages with a remote device. Generally, the method includes causing the endpoint to transmit a standard meter reading message within a predefined frequency band. Then, after waiting a predetermined amount of time, a receiver on the endpoint is activated to listen for a message transmitted by the remote device. While the receiver on the endpoint is activated, the endpoint may receive a command from the remote device without being required to transmit an additional standard meter reading message.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An endpoint operative to perform a method for exchanging time-divided communications with a remote device, the method comprising:
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within a predefined frequency band, transmitting a standard meter reading having data defined in accordance with a metering protocol; after a first period of time defined in the metering protocol has elapsed, activating a receiver to listen for a message on a designated channel that is known by the remote device; receiving a message from the remote device having a command to execute instructions, wherein the message includes a data item that indicates whether the command is designated as a linked command; transmitting a response message responsive to the command; and when the command is designated as a linked command, activating the receiver after a second period of time defined in the metering protocol has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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4. A system for performing time-divided communications over a shared communication medium, the system comprising:
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a collector capable of monitoring a set of transmission channels for data indicative of a standard meter reading, receiving a standard meter reading over a channel that is being monitored, determining whether to issue a command to an endpoint that generated the standard meter reading; and an endpoint for transmitting a standard meter reading over the channel, activating a receiver to listen for a message transmitted over a designated channel once a first pre-determined amount of time from the transmission of the standard meter reading has elapsed, and receiving a message on the designated channel transmitted by the collector; wherein the collector is configured to transmit a command to execute instructions to the endpoint after the first pre-determined amount of time from the transmission of the standard meter reading has elapsed and before receiving any further message from the endpoint, the command including a data item indicating whether the command is designated as linked; and wherein the endpoint is to transmit a response message responsive to the command and, when the command is designated as linked, to activate the receiver to listen for a second message after a second pre-determined amount of time from the transmission of the response message. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a collector to exchange time-divided communications with an endpoint, the method comprising:
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receiving a standard meter reading from the endpoint; determining how many pending commands exist for the endpoint; and after a pre-determined period of time from the transmission of the standard meter reading by the endpoint, sending a message to the endpoint that includes a first command, the message including a data item that indicates whether the first command is designated as linked; wherein the first command is designated as linked when the collector determines that a plurality of pending commands exist for the endpoint. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification