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Methods and apparatus to locate utility meter endpoints of interest

  • US 9,955,237 B2
  • Filed: 09/11/2014
  • Issued: 04/24/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
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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