Host-client utility meter systems and methods for communicating with the same
First Claim
1. A host automated meter reading (AMR) device, comprising:
- a communication module, in communication with a plurality of client AMR devices;
wherein said communication module is operable to receive meter data associated with said plurality of client AMR devices; and
wherein said communication module is operable to transmit said meter data to a utility remote from said plurality of client AMR devices.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A host automated meter reading (AMR) device may communicate with one or more client AMR devices in proximity to the host meter. The host and client AMR devices operate as master and slave devices, respectfully, in a host-client AMR device system. The host AMR device may transmit command and control functions to the client AMR devices, and may receive AMR device information from each client AMR device. The host AMR device may also transmit AMR device information from both itself and the client AMR devices over a communications network to a utility. Furthermore, the host AMR device may receive command and control functions from the utility via the same communications network, and may relay those functions to the AMR devices associated with that particular host AMR device.
96 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A host automated meter reading (AMR) device, comprising:
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a communication module, in communication with a plurality of client AMR devices;
wherein said communication module is operable to receive meter data associated with said plurality of client AMR devices; and
wherein said communication module is operable to transmit said meter data to a utility remote from said plurality of client AMR devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A host-client automated meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:
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at least one host AMR device, said at least one host AMR device comprising a communications module, wherein said at least one host AMR device is in communication with a utility via said communications module; and
a plurality of client AMR devices, each of said plurality of client AMR devices in communication with said at least one host AMR device via said at least one host AMR device communications module. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method of communicating between local meters and a utility, comprising:
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providing a host meter;
transmitting command data from the host meter to a plurality of client meters using a short range communication capability of said host meter;
receiving at said host meter data from said client meters using a short range communication capability of said host meter; and
relaying the received data back to a utility using a long range communication capability of said host meter. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of communicating between host and client meters comprising the steps of:
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transmitting command data from said host meter to a plurality of client meters using a short range communication capability of said host meter; and
receiving at said host meter data from said host meter using another short range communication capability provided by each of said plurality of client meters; and
- View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of communicating between client and host meters comprising the steps of:
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transmitting data from at least one client meter using a first short range communication capability of said at least one client meter to a host meter; and
receiving meter data from said at least one client meter using a second short range communication capability of said host meter;
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions for performing the steps of:
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receiving meter data sent from a meter to a host server over a network;
displaying meter data via an interface to allow a user to monitor communications and meter data sent from said meter;
accepting instructions at said host server for further distribution to a meter; and
processing information to allow communication by the host server wherein said host server is capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from said meter. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification