Utility meter reporting network
First Claim
1. A utility meter reporting network comprising:
- an end-point reporting device configured to collect utility usage data and to convey said utility usage data to a gateway device via a first Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) radio communication link using an ISM transmitter operable in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz range, said end-point reporting device including a vertically polarized antenna and a horizontally polarized antenna;
said gateway device comprising an ISM receiver for receiving said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device, a storage for storing said utility usage data, and a wireless transceiver configured to send said utility usage data via an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 compliant wireless communication link, wherein said gateway device is configured to implement a frequency selection algorithm in conjunction with an antenna selection algorithm, wherein;
said frequency selection algorithm includes said end-point reporting device sending multiple messages at three different frequencies in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz range to said gateway device to determine which of the three different frequencies provides the highest signal-to-noise ratio as measured by said gateway device, and thereafter said gateway device generates a message instructing said end-point reporting device to use the frequency providing the highest signal-to-noise ratio when transmitting said utility usage data; and
said antenna selection algorithm includes said end-point reporting device sending a first message using said vertically polarized antenna and a second message using said horizontally polarized antenna to determine which antenna provides the highest signal-to-noise ratio as measured by said gateway device, and thereafter said gateway device generates a message instructing said end-point reporting device to use the antenna providing the highest signal-to-noise ratio when transmitting said utility usage data; and
a remote device configured to receive said utility usage data from said gateway device via said IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless communication link;
wherein said gateway device is configured to erase said utility usage data from said storage upon receipt of a confirmation of said utility usage data from said remote device;
wherein said gateway device receives said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device at a first rate when a utility malfunction is not suspected;
wherein said gateway device receives said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device at a second rate when said utility malfunction is suspected, said first rate being a periodic rate and said second rate being a continuous rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A utility meter reporting network is disclosed. In one embodiment, an end-point reporting device is configured to collect utility usage data and to convey the utility usage data to a gateway device via a first Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) radio communication link using a first ISM transceiver operable in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz range. The network further comprises a gateway device comprising a second ISM transceiver for receiving the utility usage data from the end point and a wireless transceiver which is configured to send the utility usage data via an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 compliant wireless communication link. The network further comprises a utility office which receives the utility usage data from said gateway device via said IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless communication link.
21 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A utility meter reporting network comprising:
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an end-point reporting device configured to collect utility usage data and to convey said utility usage data to a gateway device via a first Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) radio communication link using an ISM transmitter operable in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz range, said end-point reporting device including a vertically polarized antenna and a horizontally polarized antenna; said gateway device comprising an ISM receiver for receiving said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device, a storage for storing said utility usage data, and a wireless transceiver configured to send said utility usage data via an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 compliant wireless communication link, wherein said gateway device is configured to implement a frequency selection algorithm in conjunction with an antenna selection algorithm, wherein; said frequency selection algorithm includes said end-point reporting device sending multiple messages at three different frequencies in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz range to said gateway device to determine which of the three different frequencies provides the highest signal-to-noise ratio as measured by said gateway device, and thereafter said gateway device generates a message instructing said end-point reporting device to use the frequency providing the highest signal-to-noise ratio when transmitting said utility usage data; and said antenna selection algorithm includes said end-point reporting device sending a first message using said vertically polarized antenna and a second message using said horizontally polarized antenna to determine which antenna provides the highest signal-to-noise ratio as measured by said gateway device, and thereafter said gateway device generates a message instructing said end-point reporting device to use the antenna providing the highest signal-to-noise ratio when transmitting said utility usage data; and a remote device configured to receive said utility usage data from said gateway device via said IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless communication link; wherein said gateway device is configured to erase said utility usage data from said storage upon receipt of a confirmation of said utility usage data from said remote device; wherein said gateway device receives said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device at a first rate when a utility malfunction is not suspected; wherein said gateway device receives said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device at a second rate when said utility malfunction is suspected, said first rate being a periodic rate and said second rate being a continuous rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for collecting utility usage data, said method comprising:
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sending utility usage data from an end-point reporting device to a gateway device via a first Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) radio communication link using an ISM transmitter operable in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz range, said end-point reporting device including a vertically polarized antenna and a horizontally polarized antenna; receiving said utility usage data by said gateway device using an ISM receivers; implementing a frequency selection algorithm in conjunction with an antenna selection algorithm, wherein; said frequency selection algorithm includes said end-point reporting device sending multiple messages at three different frequencies in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz range to said gateway device to determine which of the three different frequencies provides the highest signal-to-noise ratio as measured by said gateway device, and thereafter said gateway device generates a message instructing said end-point reporting device to use that frequency when transmitting said utility usage data; and said antenna selection algorithm includes said end-point reporting device sending a first message using said vertically polarized antenna and a second message using said horizontally polarized antenna to determine which antenna provides the highest signal-to-noise ratio as measured by said gateway device, and thereafter said gateway device generates a message instructing said end-point reporting device to use the antenna providing the highest signal-to-noise ratio when transmitting said utility usage data; and sending said utility usage data by said gateway device to a remote device via an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 compliant wireless communication link using an IEEE 802.11 compliant radio transceiver; wherein said gateway device comprises a storage for storing said utility usage data; wherein said gateway device is configured to erase said utility usage data from said storage upon receipt of a confirmation of said utility usage data from said remote device; wherein said gateway device receives said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device at a first rate when a utility malfunction is not suspected; wherein said gateway device receives said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device at a second rate when said utility malfunction is suspected, said second rate being higher than said first rate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for collecting utility usage data, said method comprising:
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sending utility usage data from an end-point reporting device to a gateway device via a first Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) radio communication link using an ISM transmitter operable in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz range, said end-point reporting device including a vertically polarized antenna and a horizontally polarized antenna; receiving said utility usage data by said gateway device using an ISM receivers; implementing a frequency selection algorithm in conjunction with an antenna selection algorithm, wherein; said frequency selection algorithm includes said end-point reporting device sending multiple messages at three different frequencies in the 902 MHz to 928 MHz range to said gateway device to determine which of the three different frequencies provides the highest signal-to-noise ratio as measured by said gateway device, and thereafter said gateway device generates a message instructing said end-point reporting device to use that frequency when transmitting said utility usage data; and said antenna selection algorithm includes said end-point reporting device sending a first message using said vertically polarized antenna and a second message using said horizontally polarized antenna to determine which antenna provides the highest signal-to-noise ratio as measured by said gateway device, and thereafter said gateway device generates a message instructing said end-point reporting device to use the antenna providing the highest signal-to-noise ratio when transmitting said utility usage data; and using a remote device to receive said utility usage data from said gateway device via an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 radio link; wherein said gateway device comprises a storage for storing said utility usage data; wherein said gateway device is configured to erase said utility usage data from said storage upon receipt of a confirmation of said utility usage data from said remote device; wherein said gateway device receives said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device at a first rate when a utility malfunction is not suspected; wherein said gateway device receives said utility usage data from said end-point reporting device at a second rate when said utility malfunction is suspected, said second rate being higher than said first rate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification