Fixed network for an automatic utility meter reading system

• US 8,791,834 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brennan, Jim, Hamilton, David, Ali, Mohammed, Cely, Joe, Easterling, Quentin, Bilodeau, John, Poorbaugh, Ed, Carter, Burt, Kynard, Richard, Wynn, Warren, White, Dan, Pettit, David
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUER, SCOTT ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/691,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20130088366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.2
• US Class Current: 340/870.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/45 Utility meters networked together within a single building
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/86 Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself
• 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 fixed network for automatically reading a utility meter system has been developed. The network includes multiple meter interface units (MIUs) that each collect data from a designated utility meter. The collected data is transmitted to a primary data collector. The network includes multiple data collectors and each MIU identifies its own primary data collector based on signal quality between the collector and the MIU. The network includes a central host computer that is used to receive the collected data from the primary data collectors.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data for a utility meter reading system, comprising:

measuring the actual usage of a metered commodity with a utility meter over a first time period;

dividing the first time period into a plurality of intervals;

defining data representative of said measured actual usage as a fractional or percentage value of said measured actual usage over each of said plurality of intervals; and

transmitting said actual usage and said defined data over a communications network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said data has a data resolution, and further comprising distinguishing between a non-zero value of usage less than the lowest non-zero value within the data resolution and an actual usage of zero.

5. The method of claim 1, where the percentage or fractional value of usage is an absolute value of usage so that a reverse usage may be shown as a negative value of usage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of intervals is equal in duration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first time period is one day, and each interval is one hour long.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving said transmission over a communications network and converting at least part of said defined data corresponding to at least one interval to an amount of a standard unit of measure.

2. A method of communicating data for a utility meter reading system, comprising:

defining data collected from a utility meter by a meter interface unit as fractional or percentage value of usage over a predetermined period of time, wherein said data is defined digitally by a predetermined number of bits providing a data resolution;

distinguishing between a non-zero value of usage less than the lowest non-zero value within the data resolution and an actual usage of zero; and

transmitting said defined data from said meter interface unit over a communications network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said predetermined time period is one hour.

9. The method of claim 2, where the percentage or fractional value of usage is an absolute value of usage so that a reverse usage may be shown as a negative value of usage.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving said transmission over a communications network and converting said defined data to an amount of a standard unit of measure.

11. A method of communicating data for a utility meter reading system, comprising:

collecting data from a utility meter with at least one designated meter interface unit (MIU) where the data comprises utility usage defined as a fractional or percentage value and wherein the data is defined digitally by a predetermined number of bits providing a data resolution;

distinguishing between a non-zero value of usage less than the lowest non-zero value within the data resolution and an actual usage of zero;

transmitting the data via a communication link between an MIU and a data collector; and

transmitting the data from the data collector to a central host computer.

12. The method of claim 11, where the percentage or fractional value of usage is an absolute value of usage so that a reverse usage may be shown as a negative value of usage.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving said transmission at said data collector and converting said defined data to an amount of a standard unit of measure.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving said transmission at said host computer and converting said defined data to an amount of a standard unit of measure.