Radio communication network for collecting data from utility meters

• US 20020158774A1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1990
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Wiebe, Michael, Holowick, Erwin, Jacob, Nathan R., Murhpy, Michael F., Schellenberg, James J., Stasenski, Michael S., Johnson, Dennis F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,653,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/06 successively, i.e. using time division
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/022 by sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/08 Non-scheduled access, e.g. ALOHA hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/04 Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 : Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

A radio communications network for transmitting data from a plurality of remote stations to a central station is provided. This system is particularly proposed for automatic meter reading systems in which the remote stations are located at utility meters. The system includes an array of receiving stations arranged relative to the remote stations so that the messages from each remote station can be received by at least two and preferably four of the receiving stations providing a high level of duplication of messages. The remote stations transmit utility usage information obtained from a previous time period at a random time subsequent to the time period so that message collisions can occur. High level of duplication provided by the increased number of receiving stations reduces the message loss. A quiet period during which the remote stations are prevented from transmitting can be used for communication between the receiving stations and the central station.

Claims

1. A radio communication network for communicating information comprising a plurality of remote data generating stations, each of the remote stations having means for generating data for transmission, control means for modulating the data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and arranged to form said data into a packet of data and to transmit said data at a specific time which is substantially randomly selected within a predetermined time period, and an antenna for transmitting multi-directionally the carrier, the radio frequency carrier being the same for each of said remote stations, a central station for receiving and storing the data, and a plurality of receiving stations each including means for receiving the data and means for subsequently retransmitting the data to the central station, the receiving stations being arranged in an array relative to the remote stations such that each receiving station can receive data from a plurality of said remote stations and such that the data transmitted by substantially each one of said remote stations can be received by at least a respective two of said receiving stations to generate, in the absence of collisions between the transmission of separate ones of said remote station, duplicate packets of the data at least one of which is redundant, the central station including means for receiving the data from each of said receiving stations, that being provided means for identifying and collating the data from each of said remote stations arranged such that only one of the duplicate packets is collated.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the receiving stations are arranged such that the data transmitted by a majority of the remote stations can be received by a respective four of said receiving stations.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said control means of each remote station is arranged to collate data for a specific time period and subsequent to said specific time period at said randomly selected time is arranged to transmit said collected data in said packet and wherein said control means is arranged to generate for each packet of data related to a plurality of sequential specific time periods a respective one of a plurality of message numbers.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the receiving stations each include means for collating the data received from said remote stations, means for forming the collated data into a packet of data, means for modulating the packet of data for transmission on a radio frequency carrier and an antenna for transmitting the carrier.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein the receiving stations are arranged such that the carrier is the same for each of the receiving stations and is the same as the carrier of the remote stations and wherein the control means of each of the remote stations is arranged to ensure that the packet of data is transmitted outside a predetermined time slot allocated for transmission from said receiving stations.

6. The invention according to claim 4 in which the central station includes an antenna which is directional and steerable for communicating with each in turn of said receiving stations and wherein each of said receiving stations is arranged to transmit said packet of collated data in response to a polling signal from said central station.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein each of said remote stations comprises a support structure for mounting at a remote location, means mounted on the support structure for detecting information to be transmitted and an antenna mounted on said support structure for transmitting multi-directionally such that the carrier transmitted is received by all receiving stations within range of the signal from the antenna.

8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein each of the remote stations is associated with a utility meter for detecting usage of a utility at the location of the remote station.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein each remote station includes means for detecting attempts for tampering of the utility meter.

10. The invention according to claim 8 wherein each of the remote stations includes means for calculating and storing a value of accumulated usage of the utility during a predetermined time period and wherein the control means is arranged to generate rardomly said specific time subsequent to the end of said predetermined time period.

11. The invention according to claim 8 wherein each of the remote stations is associated with an electricity meter and wherein each of the remote stations is arranged to transmit an alarm signal on detection of the absence of an electrical voltage at said meter.

12. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the carrier comprises a spread spectrum carrier.

13. The invention according to claim 1 wherein each of the receiving stations includes a multi-directional transmitter and control means responsive to receipt of a signal to transmit a communication signal for receipt by control equipment at the location of said remote stations.

14. The invention according to claim 1 including a remote station simulator device including control means for generating packets of data simulating the data from a remote station and means for transmitting the packets of data at random intervals, the control means and the transmitting means being mounted in a portable unit for moving to different locations.

15. The invention according to claim, 14 wherein the control means includes means for varying the message length and means for varying the power level of the transmission means.

17. The invention according to claim 16 wherein the support structure is shaped and arranged for mounting inside a conventional utility meter and wherein the antenna is shaped and arranged so as to be received inside the meter.

18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein the detecting means is arranged to detect attempts to tamper with the meter.

19. The invention according to claim 16 wherein the utility is electricity and wherein the detecting means is arranged to generate an alarm signal upon detecting the absence of the electrical voltage.

16. Apparatus for detecting usage of a utility and for transmitting data relating to the usage comprising a support structure for mounting at a location of use of the utility, means on the support structure or detecting use of the utility, means for calculating and storing a value of accumulated usage during a predetermined time period, control means for modulating the value for transmission an a radio frequency carrier and arranged to form said value into a packet of data and to transmit said data at a specific time subsequent to said predetermined time period which is substantially randomly selected and an antenna mounted on said support structure for transmitting multi-directionally the carrier.