Method and configuring parameters of GPRS-type communication devices over a cellular phone network, and corresponding communications system
First Claim
1. A method for remotely configuring parameters of utility meters and/or utility meter interface units within a communications system in which metering data are sent from said utility meters and/or utility meter interface units to a central communications system over a cellular phone network using the GPRS protocol, said method comprising the steps of:
- setting configuration parameters linked to at least one of said utility meters and/or utility meter interface units and storing said configuration parameters in a configuration instruction queue of said central communications system;
upon initiation of a communication using the GPRS protocol from any transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit, during which metering data from said transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit are received at said central communications system, checking if configuration parameters linked to said transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit have been stored in said queue; and
in case configuration parameters linked to said transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit have been stored in said queue, sending said configuration parameters to said transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit using the GPRS protocol;
wherein said step of sending configuration parameters includes sending an acknowledgement message to said utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit for acknowledging receipt of said metering data, said configuration parameters being attached to said acknowledgment message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for remotely configuring parameters of GPRS-type communication devices (2, 3) within a communications system in which data are exchanged between said GPRS-type communication devices (2, 3) and a central communications system (1) over a cellular phone network (6). According to the invention, configuration parameters (Pn) are first set and then stored in a configuration instruction queue (10) of said central communications system (1). Upon initiation of a communication using the GPRS protocol from a transmitting GPRS-type communication device (Idm), corresponding configuration parameters, provided that they are stored in queue, are then sent to said transmitting GPRS-type device (Idm) using GPRS protocol. The method is applicable to remote configuration of utility metering data over a GSM type network.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for remotely configuring parameters of utility meters and/or utility meter interface units within a communications system in which metering data are sent from said utility meters and/or utility meter interface units to a central communications system over a cellular phone network using the GPRS protocol, said method comprising the steps of:
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setting configuration parameters linked to at least one of said utility meters and/or utility meter interface units and storing said configuration parameters in a configuration instruction queue of said central communications system; upon initiation of a communication using the GPRS protocol from any transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit, during which metering data from said transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit are received at said central communications system, checking if configuration parameters linked to said transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit have been stored in said queue; and in case configuration parameters linked to said transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit have been stored in said queue, sending said configuration parameters to said transmitting utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit using the GPRS protocol; wherein said step of sending configuration parameters includes sending an acknowledgement message to said utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit for acknowledging receipt of said metering data, said configuration parameters being attached to said acknowledgment message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A communications system in which metering data are sent from utility meters and/or utility meter interface units to a central communications system over a cellular phone network using the GPRS protocol, said central communications system comprising:
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a configuration instruction queue for storing configuration parameters linked to at least one of said utility meters and/or utility meter interface units; means for receiving metering data sent from a utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit upon a communication initiated by said utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit using the GPRS protocol for transferring metering data; and in case configuration parameters linked to said utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit have been stored in said queue, means for sending said configuration parameters to said utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit using the GPRS protocol; wherein said means for sending said configuration parameters are configured for sending an acknowledgement message to said utility meter and/or utility meter interface unit for acknowledging receipt of said metering data, with said configuration parameters attached to said acknowledgment message. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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Specification