Synchronization methods and apparatus

• US 9,204,405 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Hildebrandt, Holger, Barnes, Keith W., Holmdahl, Bret, Ogle, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Masur, Paul H
• Application Number:
  US14/101,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20150163756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/00 Tariff metering apparatus in taximeters G07B13/00; apparatus actuated by coins, cards or the like with meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas, or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0602 Systems characterised by the synchronising information used
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0635 Clock or time synchronisation in a network timer in protocols H04L69/28
• 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 2209/845 where the measuring is synchronized between sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements

Abstract

Synchronization methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed. An example method includes storing, in memory of a device, schedule information indicating times at which the device is to listen for a sequential series of data frames, the schedule information further indicating a reference time at which transmission of the sequential series of data frames to the device is to be initiated; initiating a listening session at a first time of the schedule information according to a native clock of the device; identifying which of the data frames of the sequential series is received first during the listening session; and adjusting the native clock of the device based on the identified data frame.

Claims

1. A data collection system, comprising:

a meter to monitor usage of a resource provided by a utility service provider;

a collection device to collect usage information from the meter and to provide the usage information to the utility service provider, wherein;

the collection device is to convey data frames of a sequential series in a maintenance window in accordance with a schedule;

the collection device is to adhere to the schedule according to a global absolute time source;

the meter is to initiate a listening session in accordance with the schedule;

the meter is to adhere to the schedule according to a native clock of the meter;

the meter is to adjust the native clock to correspond to the global absolute time source by determining a position of one of the data frames received first during the listening session.

2. A data collection system as defined in claim 1, wherein the meter is to adjust the native clock by combining the determined position of the first-received data frame and an amount of time between respective ones of the data frames.

3. A data collection system as defined in claim 1, wherein the collection device is to include identifying information with each of the data frames to enable the meter to determine the position of each of the data frames within the sequential series.

4. A data collection system as defined in claim 1, wherein the meter is to store the schedule in local memory.

5. A data collection system as defined in claim 1, wherein the schedule is defined and provided to the meter via a host computing system associated with the utility service provider.

6. A meter, comprising:

a usage monitor to calculate usage information associated with consumption of a resource supplied by a utility;

memory to store a schedule of maintenance windows, the schedule indicating;

a first time at which a collection device is scheduled to transmit a series of data frames to the meter according to a global absolute time source; and

a second time at which the meter is to begin listening for the series of data frames according to a native clock of the meter; and

a clock adjuster to;

when a first one of the series of data frames is received during a listening session initiated at the second time;

determine a position of the first data frame in the series;

calculate a difference between the native clock of the meter and the global absolute time source based on the position of the first data frame in series; and

adjust the native clock of the meter based on the difference.

7. A method, comprising:

monitoring, via a meter, usage of a resource provided by a utility service provider;

collecting, via a collection device, usage information from the meter and providing the usage information to the utility service provider;

conveying, via the collection device, data frames of a sequential series in a maintenance window in accordance with a schedule;

adhering the collection device to the schedule according to a global absolute time source;

initiating, at the meter, a listening session in accordance with the schedule;

adhering the meter to the schedule according to a native clock of the meter;

adjusting, via the meter, the native clock to correspond to the global absolute time source by determining a position of one of the data frames received first during the listening session.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising adjusting, via the meter, the native clock by combining the determined position of the first-received data frame and an amount of time between respective ones of the data frames.

9. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising including, via the collection device, identifying information with each of the data frames to enable the meter to determine the position of each of the data frames within the sequential series.

10. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising storing the schedule in local memory of the meter.

11. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the schedule is defined and provided to the meter via a host computing system associated with the utility service provider.

12. A method, comprising:

calculating usage information associated with consumption of a resource supplied by a utility;

storing a schedule of maintenance windows, the schedule indicating;

a first time at which a collection device is scheduled to transmit a series of data frames to a meter according to a global absolute time source; and

a second time at which the meter is to begin listening for the series of data frames according to a native clock of the meter; and

when a first one of the series of data frames is received during a listening session initiated at the second time;

determining a position of the first data frame in the series;

calculating a difference between the native clock of the meter and the global absolute time source based on the position of the first data frame in series; and

adjusting the native clock of the meter based on the difference.

13. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a meter to at least:

calculate usage information associated with consumption of a resource supplied by a utility;

store a schedule of maintenance windows, the schedule indicating;

a first time at which a collection device is scheduled to transmit a series of data frames to the meter according to a global absolute time source; and

a second time at which the meter is to begin listening for the series of data frames according to a native clock of the meter; and

when a first one of the series of data frames is received during a listening session initiated at the second time;

determine a position of the first data frame in the series;

calculate a difference between the native clock of the meter and the global absolute time source based on the position of the first data frame in series; and

adjust the native clock of the meter based on the difference.