Time diversified packet protocol

• US 8,736,460 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brennan, William J. Jr., Easterling, Joseph Quentin
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LAURA N
• Application Number:
  US13/438,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.11, 340/870.01, 340/870.29, 379/106.03, 379/106.04, 379/106.06, 379/106.07, 379/106.08, 379/106.09, 702/62
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/06 successively, i.e. using time division
• 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 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• 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: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation
• 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

A method of reporting information from a meter interface unit to a receiving device in which a data packet is transferred from the meter interface unit containing meter readings, which are associated with an indicator of the elapsed time since the reading was taken. The receiving device compares this elapsed time value with the actual elapsed time, based upon the internal clock of the receiving device, in order to determine any inaccuracies in the clock of the meter interface unit. In another embodiment, the data packet includes at least two nonsequential meter readings, separated by a multiplicity of reading intervals, on a rolling basis, such that data will not be lost as a result of a temporary obstruction that interferes with the transmission or receipt of meter readings.

Claims

1. A method of reporting information from a meter in an automated meter reading system, comprising:

(a) reading the meter upon a series of reading intervals and associating each reading with a time stamp corresponding to when said reading was made;

(b) transmitting a packet comprising first and second non-sequential readings and a third reading from said series, and an indicator of time elapsed since each said reading was taken, wherein said packet does not include a reading from said series between said non-sequential readings, and wherein the interval between the third reading and the closest of the first or second readings is not equal to the interval between the first and second readings; and

(c) subsequently transmitting a packet comprising a reading more recent than either of said non-sequential readings and another reading from said series between said first and second non-sequential readings.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said packets are transmitted on a transmit interval, and there is at least one transmit interval in each reading interval.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said packets are transmitted on a transmit interval, and there is at least one reading interval in each transmit interval.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said time stamp corresponds to an actual time of day and said indicator comprises said time stamp.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises the difference between the time of transmission of said packet and said time stamp.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said time stamp corresponds to a serialized time value.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein each reading in said packet is associated with the actual time of day corresponding said indicator by a device receiving said transmission.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reading intervals are fixed and said time stamp corresponds to a particular reading interval.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said reading interval is fifteen minutes, and the elapsed time since said two readings were made are approximately 12 hours and approximately 24 hours, respectively.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said packet comprises at least three readings, which comprise the two most recent sequential readings from said series.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said series comprises a plurality of readings between said two non-sequential readings reported in said packet in step (b).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said packet does not contain any of said plurality of readings.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps (b) and (c) until all readings from said series between said first and second non-sequential readings have been transmitted.