Optimized data collection in a wireless fixed network metering system
First Claim
1. In a wireless network comprising a collector and a plurality of electricity meters that measure consumption of electricity and that bi-directionally communicate wirelessly with the collector to transmit information about measured consumption of electricity to the collector, each of the electricity meters having a wireless communication path to the collector that is either a direct communication path to the collector or an indirect communication path through one or more other electricity meters that serve as repeaters, a method performed by a select one of the electricity meters, comprising:
- receiving a message, from a battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity, which designates the select one of the electricity meters as an associated meter, such that an association is established with the battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity;
in response to establishing the association, receiving information about measured consumption of the other commodity from the associated battery-powered meter and storing the received information; and
transmitting both information about consumption of electricity measured by the select one electricity meter and the information about consumption of the other commodity received from the associated battery-powered meter to the collector via the wireless network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems regarding an electricity meter in a wireless network are disclosed. The network may comprise a collector and a plurality of electricity meters that measure consumption of electricity and that bi-directionally communicate wirelessly with the collector. The electricity meter may have an established association with at least one battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity. The electricity meter may receive information about measured consumption of the other commodity from the battery-powered meter and store the received information. The electricity meter may transmit both information about consumption of electricity measured by the electricity meter and the information about consumption of the other commodity received from the associated battery-powered meter to the collector via the wireless network and also to a remotely located display associated with the electricity meter.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a wireless network comprising a collector and a plurality of electricity meters that measure consumption of electricity and that bi-directionally communicate wirelessly with the collector to transmit information about measured consumption of electricity to the collector, each of the electricity meters having a wireless communication path to the collector that is either a direct communication path to the collector or an indirect communication path through one or more other electricity meters that serve as repeaters, a method performed by a select one of the electricity meters, comprising:
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receiving a message, from a battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity, which designates the select one of the electricity meters as an associated meter, such that an association is established with the battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity; in response to establishing the association, receiving information about measured consumption of the other commodity from the associated battery-powered meter and storing the received information; and transmitting both information about consumption of electricity measured by the select one electricity meter and the information about consumption of the other commodity received from the associated battery-powered meter to the collector via the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a wireless network comprising a collector and a plurality of electricity meters that measure consumption of electricity and that bi-directionally communicate wirelessly with the collector to transmit information about measured consumption of electricity to the collector, each of the electricity meters having a wireless communication path to the collector that is either a direct communication path to the collector or an indirect communication path through one or more other electricity meters that serve as repeaters, a method performed by a battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity, comprising:
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transmitting a message to a select one electricity meter of the plurality of electricity meters, the message comprising an associated meter field containing a destination address of the electricity meter such that the battery-powered meter is identified as a meter with which the electricity meter is to associate; establishing an association with the select one electricity meter that is one of a limited number of the plurality of electricity meters with which the select one battery-powered meter can associate; and upon determining that a quality of the communication with the associated select one electricity meter has fallen below a first predetermined threshold, establishing communication with at least one other electricity meter and communicating its measured commodity consumption information to that other electricity meter and the select one electricity meter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A wireless network comprising:
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a collector; a plurality of electricity meters that measure consumption of electricity and that bi-directionally communicate wirelessly with the collector to transmit information about measured consumption of electricity to the collector, each of the electricity meters having a wireless communication path to the collector that is either a direct communication path to the collector or an indirect communication path through one or more other electricity meters that serve as repeaters; at least one remotely located display associated with one of the electricity meters; and a battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity, wherein a select one of the plurality of electricity meters; receives a message, from a battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity, which designates the select one of the electricity meters as an associated meter, such that an association is established with the battery-powered meter that measures consumption of a commodity other than electricity; receives information about measured consumption of the other commodity from the associated battery-powered meter and stores the received information; and transmits both information about consumption of electricity measured by it and the information about consumption of the other commodity received from the associated battery-powered meter to the collector via the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification