Method and system for reading utility meters
First Claim
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1. A method for reading utility meters comprising of:
- configuring a plurality of utility meters, at a common location, for two-way local communication between the meters;
configuring a first meter of the plurality of utility meters for wireless two-way communication with a phone service provider;
receiving a billing inquiry from the phone service provider at the first meter, the billing inquiry including destination information identifying at least one of the plurality of meters to which the billing inquiry is addressed;
wirelessly communicating the billing inquiry from the first meter to each meter addressed by the inquiry;
in response to receipt of the billing inquiry from the first meter, accessing utility usage information stored in each meter addressed by the inquiry;
wirelessly communicating the utility usage information stored in each meter addressed by the billing inquiry to the first meter;
wirelessly communicating the utility usage information from the first meter to the phone service provider;
deriving energy to power at least one meter addressed by the inquiry from a fluid flow transducer disposed in fluid communication with a fluid flowing through a utility conduit associated with at least one meter;
providing a battery operated wireless communication circuit and a battery recharging circuit in association with at least one meter, the battery recharging circuit being in communication with the fluid flow transducer, the fluid flow transducer being disposed in fluid flow communication with fluid flow through a utility conduit associated with at least one meter, for recharging the battery in response to fluid flow through the conduit; and
monitoring a battery voltage level within the battery operated wireless communication circuit, in at least one meter, and communicating a low voltage condition signal to the first meter when the battery voltage level falls below a preset threshold.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a remote meter reading method and system of the type that may be poled by wireless communication. Other remote reading systems require a periodic change of batteries used to supply the power to the communication and other systems used in the remote meters. The present invention mitigates this need by using the water and gas flow into homes or other buildings to generate power used to recharge those batteries.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for reading utility meters comprising of:
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configuring a plurality of utility meters, at a common location, for two-way local communication between the meters; configuring a first meter of the plurality of utility meters for wireless two-way communication with a phone service provider; receiving a billing inquiry from the phone service provider at the first meter, the billing inquiry including destination information identifying at least one of the plurality of meters to which the billing inquiry is addressed; wirelessly communicating the billing inquiry from the first meter to each meter addressed by the inquiry; in response to receipt of the billing inquiry from the first meter, accessing utility usage information stored in each meter addressed by the inquiry; wirelessly communicating the utility usage information stored in each meter addressed by the billing inquiry to the first meter; wirelessly communicating the utility usage information from the first meter to the phone service provider; deriving energy to power at least one meter addressed by the inquiry from a fluid flow transducer disposed in fluid communication with a fluid flowing through a utility conduit associated with at least one meter; providing a battery operated wireless communication circuit and a battery recharging circuit in association with at least one meter, the battery recharging circuit being in communication with the fluid flow transducer, the fluid flow transducer being disposed in fluid flow communication with fluid flow through a utility conduit associated with at least one meter, for recharging the battery in response to fluid flow through the conduit; and monitoring a battery voltage level within the battery operated wireless communication circuit, in at least one meter, and communicating a low voltage condition signal to the first meter when the battery voltage level falls below a preset threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification