Fixed network for an automatic utility meter reading system
First Claim
1. A method of validating operation of a meter interface unit (MIU) installed by a technician as part of a utility meter reading system comprising a communications network and at least one bidirectional communications device operable to transmit and receive data over said network, said technician having a portable communications device operable to receive communications from said network, said method comprising:
- transmitting data from said MIU over said communications network of said utility meter reading system;
receiving said data at a bidirectional communications device of said utility meter reading system;
broadcasting by said bidirectional communications device over said network the received data and additional data comprising one of the signal-to-noise ratio or received signal strength indicator of the signal from the MIU containing the received data; and
receiving said broadcast data by said portable communications device of said technician;
thereby confirming that data transmitted by said MIU was received by a bidirectional communications device of said utility meter reading system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of validating operation of a meter interface unit (MIU) installed by a technician as part of a utility meter reading system comprising a communications network and at least one bidirectional communications device operable to transmit and receive data over said network, said technician having a portable communications device operable to receive communications from said network, said method comprising:
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transmitting data from said MIU over said communications network of said utility meter reading system; receiving said data at a bidirectional communications device of said utility meter reading system; broadcasting by said bidirectional communications device over said network the received data and additional data comprising one of the signal-to-noise ratio or received signal strength indicator of the signal from the MIU containing the received data; and receiving said broadcast data by said portable communications device of said technician; thereby confirming that data transmitted by said MIU was received by a bidirectional communications device of said utility meter reading system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of validating operation of a meter interface unit (MIU) installed by a technician as part of a utility meter reading system comprising at least one data collector and a communications network, said technician having a portable communications device operable to receive communications from said network, said method comprising:
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transmitting status data from said MIU over said communications network of said utility meter reading system; receiving said status data at a collector of said utility meter reading system; broadcasting a system maintenance message indicating receipt of said status data by said collector over said network, said message comprising one of the signal-to-noise ratio or received signal strength indicator of the signal from the MIU containing the received data; and receiving said maintenance message by said portable communications device of said technician; thereby confirming that data transmitted by said MIU was received by a collector of said utility meter reading system. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of validating operation of a meter interface unit (MIU) installed by a technician as part of a utility meter reading system comprising a communications network and at least one bidirectional communications device operable to transmit and receive data over said network, said technician having a portable communications device operable to receive communications from said network, said method comprising:
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transmitting data from said MIU over said communications network of said utility meter reading system in response to an initialization of said meter; receiving said data at a bidirectional communications device of said utility meter reading system and at said portable communications device of said technician; broadcasting the received data and additional data by said bidirectional communications device over said network, said additional data comprising one of the signal-to-noise ratio or received signal strength indicator of the signal from the MIU containing the received data; and receiving said broadcast data by said portable communications device of said technician; thereby confirming that data was transmitted by said MIU and was received by a bidirectional communications device of said utility meter reading system. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification