Methods and apparatus to locate utility meter endpoints of interest
First Claim
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1. A method for locating an endpoint of a utility metering system by a mobile data collection unit, the method comprising:
- in response to detecting a transmission from the endpoint, determining if the endpoint is an endpoint of interest based on comparing an identifier of the endpoint to a list of expected endpoints; and
if the endpoint is the endpoint of interest;
sending a first command to the endpoint of interest to increase a transmission rate of meter data from the endpoint,calculating an estimated scalar distance of the endpoint of interest based on measuring signal strengths of subsequent transmissions of the meter data from the endpoint at the increased transmission rate,triangulating an estimated location of the endpoint of interest based on the scalar distance and geographical data, wherein the geographical data includes data pertaining to whether the endpoint of interest is in a rural or urban environment, andin response to said triangulating the estimated location, sending a second command to the endpoint of interest to decrease the transmission rate of the meter data from the endpoint of interest.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed to determine the location of endpoints of interest. An example method involves in response to detecting a transmission from the endpoint, determining whether the endpoint is an endpoint of interest. If the endpoint is the endpoint of interest, the example method involves sending a first command to the endpoint to increase a transmission rate of the endpoint, determining an estimated location of the endpoint using signal strengths of subsequent transmissions from the endpoint, and enabling the transmission rate of the endpoint to decrease.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for locating an endpoint of a utility metering system by a mobile data collection unit, the method comprising:
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in response to detecting a transmission from the endpoint, determining if the endpoint is an endpoint of interest based on comparing an identifier of the endpoint to a list of expected endpoints; and if the endpoint is the endpoint of interest; sending a first command to the endpoint of interest to increase a transmission rate of meter data from the endpoint, calculating an estimated scalar distance of the endpoint of interest based on measuring signal strengths of subsequent transmissions of the meter data from the endpoint at the increased transmission rate, triangulating an estimated location of the endpoint of interest based on the scalar distance and geographical data, wherein the geographical data includes data pertaining to whether the endpoint of interest is in a rural or urban environment, and in response to said triangulating the estimated location, sending a second command to the endpoint of interest to decrease the transmission rate of the meter data from the endpoint of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for locating an endpoint associated with a utility meter by a mobile data collection unit, the method comprising:
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moving the mobile data collection unit; in response to detecting a transmission from the endpoint, determining whether the endpoint is an endpoint of interest based on comparing an identifier of the endpoint to a list of expected endpoints; if the endpoint is the endpoint of interest; sending a first command to the endpoint of interest to increase a transmission rate of meter data from the endpoint; determining estimated scalar distances of the endpoint of interest based on measured signal strengths of subsequent transmissions from the endpoint of interest while the mobile data collection unit is being moved until a final estimated location is triangulated based on the scalar distances and geographical data, wherein the geographical data includes data pertaining to whether the endpoint of interest is in a rural or urban environment; and in response to said triangulating the final estimated location of the endpoint of interest, sending a second command to the endpoint of interest to decrease the transmission rate of the meter data from the endpoint of interest. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
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in response to detecting a transmission from an endpoint of a utility metering system by a mobile data collection unit, determine whether the endpoint is an endpoint of interest based on comparing an identifier of the endpoint to a list of expected endpoints; if the endpoint is the endpoint of interest; send a first command to the endpoint of interest to increase a transmission rate of meter data from the endpoint; calculate estimated scalar distances of the endpoint of interest using signal strengths of subsequent transmissions from the endpoint of interest until a final estimated location is triangulated based on the scalar distances and geographical data, wherein the geographical data includes data pertaining to whether the endpoint of interest is in a rural or urban environment; and in response to said triangulating the final estimated location of the endpoint of interest, send a second command to the endpoint of interest to decrease the transmission rate of the meter data from the endpoint of interest. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification