Airborne data collection

• US 9,915,688 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dataflyte Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: DataFlyte, Inc.
• Inventors: Bauer, Martin L., Nower, Daniel L., Dischner, John M., Morse, Daniel J., Williamson, Matthew S, McDonald, W Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Jay C
• Application Number:
  US14/564,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20150163849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 702 62
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/006 Remote reading of utility meters to a non-fixed location, i.e. mobile location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• 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 meter reading system for communicating with Automated Meter Reading meters. The system includes an airborne platform and a meter data collection system disposed on the airborne platform. The meter data collection system includes antennas, with each of the antennas pointing in a different direction, one from another, and each antenna generally pointing downward when the airborne platform is airborne. The antennas receive meter data from the meters. The meter data collection system also includes transceivers, one each of the transceivers associated with and in signal communication with one each of the antennas. The transceivers receive the meter data through the antennas. A first computer is in signal communication with the transceivers, and receives the meter data from the transceivers.

Claims

1. A meter reading system for communicating with automated meter reading meters, the system comprising:

an airborne platform,

a meter data collection system disposed on the airborne platform, the meter data collection system including,

antennas, each of the antennas pointing in a different direction, one from another, each antenna generally pointing downward when the airborne platform is airborne, the antennas for receiving meter data from the meters, wherein the antennas further comprise;

a first antenna facing forward at about a forty-five degree angle from vertically downward,

a second antenna facing rear at about a forty-five degree angle from vertically downward,

a third antenna facing right at about a forty-five degree angle from vertically downward,

a fourth antenna facing left at about a forty-five degree angle from vertically downward, and

a fifth antenna facing substantially vertically downward,

transceivers, each of the transceivers associated with and in signal communication with an individual and unique one of the antennas, the transceivers for receiving the meter data through the antennas, and

a first computer in signal communication with the transceivers, the first computer for receiving the meter data from the transceivers.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the first computer for generating a wake-up command and sending the wake-up command through the transceivers and the antennas to the meters.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the meter data includes at least one of a meter reading, a meter identification, a meter type, a date stamp, a time stamp, a date when last read, a time when last read, handshake protocols, and a status indication.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer comprises a memory for storing meter location data and meter identification data for a set of meters to be read, and a processor for matching received meter data with the stored meter location data and the stored meter identification data, and for tracking which of the set of meters have been read by the system and which of the meters have not been read by the system.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a status display for presenting a visual display of a terrain above which the airborne platform is traveling, with indications on the display of a set of meters to be read, where the indications for those meters that have been read are presented with a first formatting and the indications for those meters that have not been read are presented with a second formatting that is different from the first formatting.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the airborne platform comprises one of an airplane, glider, projectile, helicopter, drone, balloon, dirigible, and satellite.