Device, and associated method, for communication

• US 9,400,193 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aclara Technologies LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aclara Technologies LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Inventors: Whitson, Ovie V. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US14/217,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20140292531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• 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 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An antenna is adapted for receiving via a CDMA/1×RTT digital wireless cellular radio communications network incoming data from a client remote control station, and for transmitting via a wireless cellular communications network outgoing data to the client remote control station. A cellular modem is connected to the antenna for establishing a wireless telephony data connection, and a processor is connected to the modem for receiving and processing incoming data, and for processing and communicating outgoing data to the modem for transmission via the antenna and the wireless cellular communications network to the client remote control station. A communication interface, such as a WiFi hotspot, is connected to the processor and connectable to the meter for communicating incoming data from the processor to the meter, and for communicating the outgoing data from the meter to the processor. A power supply is connected for supplying power to the processor and the modem.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a meter, the device comprising:

an antenna adapted for receiving via a network incoming data from a client remote control station, and for transmitting via a network outgoing data to the client remote control station;

a cellular modem coupled to the antenna for establishing a wireless telephony data connection;

a processor coupled to the modem for receiving and processing incoming data, and for processing and communicating outgoing data to the modem for transmission via the antenna and the network to the client remote control station;

a communication interface connected to the processor and connectable to the meter for communicating incoming data from the processor to the meter, and for communicating the outgoing data from the meter to the processor; and

a wireless local area network (WLAN) connected to the processor and modem, the WLAN being configured for communicating signals between the modem and devices configured for at least one of VOIP and digital media;

program code residing in the modem for;

receiving a message inquiring whether the network is available;

generating a reply indicating network availability;

receiving an instruction to listen for an inbound data call;

generating an acknowledgment of the instruction received;

facilitating the opening of a traffic channel between the modem and the network;

generating a message to the processor indicating that there is a traffic channel open on the network;

facilitating establishing a point-to-point protocol (PPP) between the modem and the network;

generating a message to the processor that a PPP is set up between the modem and the network;

facilitating establishing a mobile IP number between the modem and the network;

generating a message to the processor to enter into a Listen mode;

generating a request to establish a connection between the modem and the client remote control station;

generating a connection message to the processor;

facilitating establishing a transmission control protocol (TCP) between the modem and client remote control station;

generating a message to the processor to enable data carrier detect (DCD) signaling;

facilitating the transmission of data between the processor and the client remote control station;

closing the connection between the modem and client remote control station;

generating a message to the processor to disable DCD signaling;

generating a message to the processor to enter a Listen mode;

generating a request to close the connection between the processor and the client remote control station and enter into one of a circuit switch data (C SD) mode and a TCP-IP mode;

receiving from the processor a message indicating that the processor is exiting from the Listen mode;

generating an acknowledgment that the processor is no longer in the Listen mode;

facilitating closing of the mobile IP and PPP connection between the modem and the network; and

generating a message to the processor to disconnect from the modem.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a serial communication interface.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is operable utilizing a transistor-to-transistor logic (TTL) communication protocol.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface further comprises an optical-isolation circuit effective for electrically isolating the device from the meter.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor further comprises two or more communication ports and Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitters (USARTs) operable for simultaneous communications with two or more components.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured for being mounted within the meter.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured for being mounted externally of the meter.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the modem is a circuit-switched modem.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured for being mounted within the meter.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the modem is operable for receiving incoming data and transmitting outgoing data utilizing a protocol comprising one of IS-95A/B, Dynamic Host Configurable Protocol (DHCP), and a static Internet protocol (IP).

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a serial communications port connected to the processor for facilitating diagnostics of the device, diagnostics of the meter, diagnostics of a remote terminal unit (RTU), programming of the meter, programming of the modem, programming of the processor, communications with other end point devices.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a TTL port connected to the processor for facilitating diagnostics and programming of the processor and the modem.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the meter is at least one of an electric meter, a gas meter, a water meter, an automated teller machine (ATM), a remote terminal unit (RTU), and an endpoint device comprising at least one of a pump, an electric power regulator, capacitors, relays, an operational control reclosure (OCR), a device which may be monitored via a communications interface, a device requiring changes, and a device requiring a status update.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the network is a packet data serving node (PDSN).

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the network is a digital wireless cellular communications network.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of other communication devices comprises at least one cellular phone.