Collection of telemetry data through a meter reading system

• US 9,510,066 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cornwall, Mark K., Ogle, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): BALSECA, FRANKLIN D
• Application Number:
  US12/889,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,258 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.01, 340/870.02, 340/870.07, 738/61, 738/610.1, 731/99, 732/041.8, 732/041.9
• 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: 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: H04Q 2209/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• 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: 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

Disclosed are apparatus and related methodologies for transmitting data related to utility conditions between monitoring locations and a central and/or data collection facility using a meter reading system. Collection of both corrected and uncorrected data from meters is achieved to thereby provide backup data in case of corrector failure. The presently disclosed subject matter also provides for the collection of telemetry data and alarms from correctors and recorders over a meter reading system. Two-way communications over a meter reading system is also provided to permit data transmission to selected endpoint devices.

Claims

1. A method in an endpoint device for gathering corrected and uncorrected data for utility measurements at a utility usage location, comprising:

determining uncorrected utility usage data associated with the utility usage location;

requesting corrected utility usage data from an associated telemetry device;

receiving the corrected utility usage data from the telemetry device;

storing the corrected utility usage data; and

transmitting the corrected utility usage data or the uncorrected utility usage data to a centralized data collection facility via a bidirectional collection network;

wherein determining uncorrected utility usage data associated with the utility usage location includes;

reading, independently of the telemetry device, a volume pulse to determine the uncorrected utility usage data; and

storing the uncorrected utility usage data;

wherein the requesting, receiving, and storing the corrected utility usage data are performed on a periodic basis; and

wherein the transmitting the corrected utility usage data or the uncorrected utility usage data to the centralized data collection facility via the bidirectional collection network includes;

periodically transmitting the corrected utility usage data as a first bubble-up message;

identifying when the telemetry device is malfunctioning; and

transmitting the uncorrected utility usage data as one of a second bubble-up message or in response to a two-way command exchange when the telemetry device is malfunctioning.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the corrected utility usage data or the uncorrected utility usage data to the centralized data collection facility via the bidirectional collection network further comprises:

receiving a two-way command message via the bidirectional collection network, the command message requesting specified intervals of corrected utility usage data and specified intervals of uncorrected utility usage data; and

transmitting a response message via the bidirectional collection network in response to the command message, the response message including the specified intervals of corrected utility usage data and the specified intervals of uncorrected utility usage data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting corrected utility usage data from the associated telemetry device comprises:

generating a request for the corrected utility usage data;

translating the request using a personality module included in the endpoint device, the personality module providing an interface between the endpoint device and the telemetry device; and

transmitting the translated request to the telemetry device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting and the receiving of the corrected utility usage data are performed across a serial communications link.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an alarm pulse from the telemetry device;

querying the telemetry device to determine a cause of the alarm;

requesting a current data value from the telemetry device; and

transmitting a special alarm message to the centralized data collection facility via the bidirectional collection network, the special alarm message indicating the cause of the alarm and including the current data value.

6. An endpoint device for gathering corrected and uncorrected data for utility measurements at a utility usage location, the endpoint device comprising:

an endpoint data module; and

a memory communicatively coupled with the endpoint data module,

wherein the endpoint data module is configured to;

determine uncorrected utility usage data associated with the utility usage location;

request corrected utility usage data from an associated telemetry device;

receive the corrected utility usage data from the telemetry device;

store the corrected utility usage data in the memory; and

transmit the corrected utility usage data or the uncorrected utility usage data to a centralized data collection facility via a bidirectional collection network,

wherein the determining uncorrected utility usage data associated with the utility usage location includes;

reading, independently of the telemetry device, a volume pulse to determine the uncorrected utility usage data; and

storing the uncorrected utility usage data in the memory;

wherein the requesting, receiving, and storing the corrected utility usage data are performed on a periodic basis; and

wherein the transmitting the corrected utility usage data or the uncorrected utility usage data to the centralized data collection facility via the bidirectional collection network includes;

periodically transmitting the corrected utility usage data as a first bubble-up message;

identifying when the telemetry device is malfunctioning; and

transmitting the uncorrected utility usage data as one of a second bubble-up message or in response to a two-way command exchange when the telemetry device is malfunctioning.

7. The endpoint device of claim 6, wherein the transmitting the corrected utility usage data or the uncorrected utility usage data to the centralized data collection facility via the bidirectional collection network further comprises:

receiving a two-way command message via the bidirectional collection network, the command message requesting specified intervals of corrected utility usage data and specified intervals of uncorrected utility usage data; and

transmitting a response message via the bidirectional collection network in response to the command message, the response message including the specified intervals of corrected utility usage data and the specified intervals of uncorrected utility usage data.

8. The endpoint device of claim 6, further comprising:

a personality module configured to provide an interface between the endpoint device and the telemetry device,

wherein the requesting corrected utility usage data from the associated telemetry device includes;

generating a request for the corrected utility usage data;

translating the request using the personality module; and

transmitting the translated request to the telemetry device.

9. The endpoint device of claim 6, wherein the requesting and the receiving of the corrected utility usage data are performed across a serial communications link.

10. The endpoint device of claim 6, wherein the endpoint data module is further configured to:

receive an alarm pulse from the telemetry device;

query the telemetry device to determine a cause of the alarm;

request a current data value from the telemetry device; and

transmit a special alarm message to the centralized data collection facility via the bidirectional collection network, the special alarm message indicating the cause of the alarm and including the current data value.