Time diversified packet protocol

• US 9,500,499 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Neptune Technology Group Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brennan, William J Jr., Easterling, Joseph Quentin
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LAURA N
• Application Number:
  US14/689,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20150219471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.11, 340/870.01, 340/870.29, 379/106.03, 379/106.04, 379/106.06, 379/106.07, 379/106.08, 379/106.09
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/06 successively, i.e. using time division
• 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 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• 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: H04Q 9/04 Arrangements for synchronous operation
• 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

Abstract

A method of reporting information from a meter interface unit to a receiving device in which a data packet is transferred from the meter interface unit containing meter readings, which are associated with an indicator of the elapsed time since the reading was taken. The receiving device compares this elapsed time value with the actual elapsed time, based upon the internal clock of the receiving device, in order to determine any inaccuracies in the clock of the meter interface unit. In another embodiment, the data packet includes at least two nonsequential meter readings, separated by a multiplicity of reading intervals, on a rolling basis, such that data will not be lost as a result of a temporary obstruction that interferes with the transmission or receipt of meter readings.

Claims

1. A method of determining a variance between a meter interface unit (MIU) clock and an actual time in an automated meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

(a) receiving a first packet of data from a meter interface unit (MIU) in communication with a utility meter by the AMR system, said first packet containing a first reading of said meter, said first reading being associated with a first elapsed time indicator reporting a first time elapsed since said first reading was taken based on an MIU clock of said MIU;

(b) associating the first reading in said packet with a first actual time said reading was taken based upon a receiving device clock of said receiving device and said first elapsed time indicator;

(c) receiving a later packet from the MIU by the AMR system, said later packet containing the first reading, the first reading being associated with a second elapsed time indicator reporting a second time elapsed since said first reading was taken based on the MIU clock, the second elapsed time indicator of said first reading in said later packet being different than the first elapsed time indicator;

(d) associating the first reading in the later packet with a second actual time said first reading was taken based upon the receiving device clock and said second elapsed time indicator;

(e) determining the variance between the MIU clock and the actual time in the AMR system based on a difference between the first actual time and the second actual time; and

(f) when the variance exceeds a threshold variance between the MIU clock and the AMR system, sending a calibration factor to the MIU to compensate for the variance between the MIU clock and the actual time in the AMR system.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising reporting the variance to a central server or system.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising reporting to a central server or system when the variance exceeds the threshold variance.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the threshold variance is based upon a fixed differential between the first actual time and the second actual time.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the threshold variance is based upon an increase over time of a variance of the first actual time and the second actual time.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising issuing a command to the MIU to reset the clock of the MIU to correct the clock of the MIU.

7. A method of determining a variance between a meter interface unit (MIU) clock and an actual time as reported by an automated meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

(a) receiving a first packet of data from an MIU that makes readings of a meter upon reading intervals by the AMR system, said first packet containing a first reading and a second reading of said meter, each said first and second readings being associated with a first elapsed time indicator of a time elapsed since said first and second reading was taken based on an MIU clock of said MIU, wherein the first and second readings in said packet are non-sequential, and wherein an elapsed time between the first and second readings is at least two reading intervals;

(b) associating the first and second readings in said packet with an actual time said first and second readings were taken based upon an AMR system clock of said AMR system and said first elapsed time indicator;

(c) receiving a later packet of data from the MIU by the AMR system, said later packet containing a third reading of said meter, said third reading being associated with a second elapsed time indicator of a time elapsed since said third reading was taken based on the MIU clock, wherein the third reading is a same reading as the first reading, the second elapsed time indicator being different than the first elapsed time indicator;

(d) associating the third reading in said later packet with a third actual time said third reading was taken based upon the AMR system clock of said AMR system and said second elapsed time indicator;

(e) determining a variance between the MIU clock and the AMR system clock based on a difference between the first actual time and the third actual time; and

(f) when the variance exceeds a threshold variance between the MIU clock and the AMR system clock, sending a calibration factor to the MIU to compensate for the variance between the MIU clock and the actual time as reported by the AMR system.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising reporting the variance to a central server or system.

9. The method of claim 7, comprising reporting to a central server or system when the variance exceeds the threshold variance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold variance is based upon a fixed differential between the first actual time and the third actual time.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold variance is based upon an increase over time of a variance of the first actual time and the second actual time.

12. The method of claim 7, comprising issuing a command to the MIU to reset the clock of the MIU to correct the clock of the MIU.