Geographic locating remote endpoint monitor device, system, and methodology thereof

• US 9,094,022 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensus Spectrum, LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sensus Spectrum, LLC (Xylem, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sanderford, H. Britton Jr., Rouquette, Robert E., Naden, Gary A., Reed, Marc L., Boudreaux, Gordon J., Brown, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSE, YOUNG TOI
• Application Number:
  US13/740,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20130195040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 375/219, 375/220, 375/222, 375/224, 375/259, 375/260, 370/310, 370/310.2, 370/312, 370/328, 370/331, 455/437, 455/439, 455/442, 455/443, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/524
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03B 21/00 Generation of oscillations by combining unmodulated signals of different frequencies H03B19/00 takes precedence; frequency changing circuits in general H03D
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/08 Details of the phase-locked loop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/061 providing hard decisions only; arrangements for tracking or suppressing unwanted low frequency components, e.g. removal of dc offset removal of dc offset in coupling arrangements H04L25/029, H04L25/0296
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4921 using quadrature encoding, e.g. carrierless amplitude-phase coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/12 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2331 wherein the received signal is demodulated using one or more delayed versions of itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/32 Carrier systems characterised by combinations of two or more of the types covered by groups H04L27/02, H04L27/10, H04L27/18 or H04L27/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/34 Amplitude- and phase-modulated carrier systems, e.g. quadrature-amplitude modulated carrier systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/3433 using an underlying square constellation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/3483 using a modulation of the constellation points
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/364 Arrangements for overcoming imperfections in the modulator, e.g. quadrature error or unbalanced I and Q levels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/38 Demodulator circuits; Receiver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/3845 using non - coherent demodulation, i.e. not using a phase synchronous carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/06 the signals being represented by different frequencies combined with time-division multiplexing H04L5/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/083 wherein at least one of the access points is a moving node
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 between access points

Abstract

A cellular network includes a node configured to transmit a data packet on a predetermined frequency, first and second base stations configured to receive signals transmitted on the predetermined frequency, and a data concentrator. The first base station and the second base station are arranged in a cellular configuration such that a first coverage area of the first base station at least partially overlaps a second coverage area of the second base station. The first base station and the second base station each receive the data packet transmitted by the node. The data concentrator is configured to collect the data packet received by the first base station and the data packet received by the second base station. The data packet includes latitude and longitude data received from a global positioning system receiver such that a location of the node may be determined from a remote location.

Claims

1. A cellular network comprising:

a node configured to transmit a data packet on a predetermined frequency;

a first base station configured to receive signals transmitted on the predetermined frequency;

a second base station locationally dispersed from the first base station and configured to receive signals transmitted on the predetermined frequency; and

a data concentrator, wherein

the first base station and the second base station are arranged in a cellular configuration such that a first coverage area of the first base station at least partially overlaps a second coverage area of the second base station,

the first base station and the second base station each receive the data packet transmitted by the node,

the data concentrator is configured to collect the data packet received by the first base station and the data packet received by the second base station, and

the data concentrator is further configured to compare an integral identification tag included in the collected data packet with integral identification tags included in other data packets stored in a database, and to store the collected data packet in the database only if the integral identification tag in the collected data packet is not duplicated in any of the other data packets stored in the database.

2. A cellular network comprising:

a node configured to transmit a data packet on a predetermined frequency;

a first base station configured to receive signals transmitted on the predetermined frequency;

a second base station locationally dispersed from the first base station and configured to receive signals transmitted on the predetermined frequency; and

a data concentrator, wherein

the first base station and the second base station are arranged in a cellular configuration such that a first coverage area of the first base station at least partially overlaps a second coverage area of the second base station,

the first base station and the second base station each receive the data packet transmitted by the node,

the data concentrator is configured to collect the data packet received by the first base station and the data packet received by the second base station,

the node comprises a mobile node configured to move from the first coverage area to the second coverage area,

the data concentrator is further configured to combine messages transmitted by the node and received by the first base station with other messages transmitted by the node and received by the second base station, and

the first base station is not configured to handoff the node to the second base station as the node moves from the first coverage area to the second coverage area.

3. The network of claim 2, wherein:

the first base station is further configured to receive signals transmitted on a first predetermined frequency,

the second base station is further configured to receive signals transmitted on a second predetermined frequency,

the node further comprises a Global Positioning System receiver, and

the node is further configured to receive a present location from a Global Positioning System satellite, and to transmit on the first predetermined frequency when the present location is within a first predetermined geographic area, and on the second predetermined frequency when the present location is within a second predetermined geographic area.