RF METER READING SYSTEM

• US 20100007521A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Cornwall, Mark K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,390,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.20
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/60 for transmitting utility meters data, i.e. transmission of data from the reader of the utility meter
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• 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

The automatic meter reading (AMR) systems and methods of the present invention facilitate meter reading utilizing one-way and two-way communication with utility meter endpoint devices while at the same time providing an operating regime that conserves energy for long battery life and utilizes the available airwaves for AMR communications efficiently. Embodiments of the invention are applicable in AMR systems employing handheld and/or vehicle-based mobile readers, fixed readers, and combinations thereof. Moreover, embodiments of the invention facilitate smooth transition from mobile AMR systems to fixed systems, and provide for automatic AMR system performance monitoring and automatic adaptability to maintain or improve performance.

Claims

1-157. -157. (canceled)

158. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader;

a plurality of endpoints, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader;

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints initiates a communication session with the reader as part of a bubble-up operating mode by transmitting a one-way communication; and

wherein the reader selectively initiates two-way communication with individual ones of the plurality of endpoints in response to receipt of a one-way communication from each of those endpoints, and wherein the reader adjusts a bubble-up operation parameter in a first endpoint via the two-way communication.

159. The AMR system of claim 158, wherein the reader schedules a period of increased bubble-up activity of the first endpoint during the two-way communication with that endpoint.

160. The AMR system of claim 158, wherein the reader instructs the first endpoint during the two-way communication sequence to enter a sleep mode for a specified time duration.

161. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader; and

a plurality of endpoints, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader;

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints initiates a communication session with the reader as part of a bubble-up operating mode by transmitting a one-way communication; and

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is remotely configurable, via the AMR system, to schedule a time window during which that endpoint operates at a special bubble-up rate that is different from a default bubble-up rate of the endpoint.

162. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising a reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader on a bubble-up basis, a method of migrating from a primarily mobile network to a fixed network AMR system, the method comprising:

initiating two-way communication between the reader a first endpoint; and

during the two-way communication, instructing the first endpoint to slow a default bubble-up rate.

163. The method of claim 162, further comprising:

during the two-way communication, instructing the first endpoint to increase transmission power level.

164. The method of claim 162, further comprising:

during the two-way communication, instructing the first endpoint to respond to a specified reading time by temporarily increasing a bubble-up rate.

165. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising a reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader on a bubble-up basis, a method of improving communication reliability, the method comprising:

receiving, by the reader, a first message transmitted by a first endpoint at a first frequency;

determining, by the reader, whether the first frequency is suitably centered within a predefined communication channel associated with the first message;

initiating two-way communication between the reader the first endpoint;

during the two-way communication, sending an instruction to the endpoint from the reader, wherein the instruction specifies a frequency correction for the endpoint to implement.

166. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader; and

a plurality of endpoints, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader on a bubble-up basis;

wherein the reader receives a first message transmitted by a first endpoint at a first frequency;

wherein the reader determines whether the first frequency is suitably centered within a predefined communication channel associated with the first message;

wherein two-way communication is initiated between the reader the first endpoint; and

wherein during the two-way communication, the reader sends an instruction to the endpoint specifying a frequency correction for the endpoint to implement.

167. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader; and

a plurality of endpoints, wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is adapted to initiate radio frequency (RF) communication session with the reader on a bubble-up basis in a one-way mode, and to respond to a reader-initiated continuation of the communication session in two-way mode;

wherein the reader is configured to measure a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of a first message received from a first endpoint of the plurality of endpoints; and

wherein the AMR system is configured to respond to the measured RSSI by modifying future interaction with the first endpoint.

168. The AMR system of claim 167, wherein the reader is configured to determine whether or not to initiate continuation of the communication session based on the measured RSSI.

169. The AMR system of claim 167, wherein the first message is received by the reader in either the one-way mode or in the two-way mode.

170. The AMR system of claim 167, wherein the reader is configured to issue an instruction to the first endpoint requesting certain data to be transmitted in the two-way mode;

and

wherein the reader determines what data to request in the instruction based on the measured RSSI.

171. The AMR system of claim 167, wherein the reader is configured to issue an instruction based on the measured RSSI for reception by the first endpoint in the two-way mode, the instruction instructing the endpoint to change channels on which to transmit.

172. The AMR system of claim 167, wherein the reader is configured to communicate information to an AMR system controller based on the measured RSSI and wherein the system controller is adapted to modify a mobile collection route or schedule based on that information.

173. The AMR system of claim 167, wherein the reader is configured to communicate information to an AMR system controller based on the measured RSSI and wherein the system controller is adapted to reassign the first endpoint to a different reader.

174. The AMR system of claim 167, wherein the first endpoint is instructed to increase transmission power level in response to the measured RSSI.

175. The AMR system of claim 167, wherein:

RSSI values associated with certain communications are logged; and

the logged RSSI values are analyzed to identify a potential trend or characteristic of a communication arrangement between the first reader and the first endpoint.

176. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system comprising at least one reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency (RF) communication with one of the at least one reader on a bubble-up basis in a one-way mode, and in a selectively-initiated two-way mode that is initiated by an AMR system device other than that endpoint, a method of assessing or predicting communication reliability, the method comprising:

measuring channel clarity; and

making a decision by the reader affecting future communication with at least one endpoint based on the measured channel clarity.

177. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:

a reader;

a repeater; and

a plurality of endpoints;

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints is capable of conducting radio frequency (RF) communication with the reader and with the repeater;

wherein the repeater is adapted to conduct RF communication with selected ones of the plurality of endpoints and with the reader;

wherein each of the plurality of endpoints initiates a communication session with the reader or the repeater via an initial one-way communication;

wherein the reader and the repeater selectively initiate two-way communication with individual ones of the plurality of endpoints in response to receipt of an initial one-way communication from each of those endpoints;

wherein the repeater initiates a communication session with the reader via an initial one-way repeater message; and

wherein the reader selectively initiates two-way communication with the repeater in response to receipt of the repeater message.

178. The AMR system of claim 177, wherein the repeater is battery-powered.

179. The AMR system of claim 177, wherein the reader and the repeater each automatically synchronizes communication activity in time with communication activity of each of the individual ones of the plurality of endpoints with which the reader or repeater selectively communicates in two-way mode.

180. The AMR system of claim 179, wherein the reader and the repeater each automatically synchronizes communication activity in channel hopping to match a channel hopping sequence of the communication activity of each of the individual ones of the plurality of endpoints with which the reader or repeater selectively communicates in two-way mode.

181. The AMR system of claim 177, wherein the reader operates in a sleep mode for a majority of the time.

182. The AMR system of claim 177, wherein the initial one-way communication of each endpoint and of the repeater includes a radio packet comprising essentially an identification of that endpoint or repeater.

183. The AMR system of claim 177, wherein the initial one-way communication of each endpoint or reader includes an indication of a next subsequent channel on which that endpoint or repeater will be listening.

184. The AMR system of claim 177, wherein each endpoint is configured to normally operate in a receive mode during a time window that begins sometime after each message transmission receivable by the reader or the repeater;

and

wherein the repeater is configured to selectively transmit an instruction to each endpoint in response to receiving a message transmission from that endpoint, wherein the instruction is transmitted such that it can be received during a corresponding time window.

185. The AMR system of claim 184, wherein the reader responds to the repeater'"'"'s initial one-way repeater message by transmitting an instruction receivable by the repeater, wherein the instruction requests that the repeater transmit a list of endpoints within communication range.

186. The AMR system of claim 184, wherein the reader responds to the repeater'"'"'s initial one-way repeater message by transmitting an instruction receivable by the repeater, wherein the instruction specifies the endpoints with which the repeater should engage in two-way communication.

187. In an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, a method of gathering consumption information by an endpoint for facilitating collection of different sets of interval data, the method comprising:

obtaining consumption data at a first time granularity; and

storing each obtained item of consumption data in a data structure having multiple tiers of time granularity.

188. The method of claim 187, wherein storing each obtained item of consumption data includes storing the data in a multidimensional table or array, wherein each dimension corresponds to a different time granularity.

189. The method of claim 188, wherein storing each obtained item in a multidimensional table or array, includes storing consumption values in a days x hours matrix.

190. The method of claim 187, further comprising transmitting an interval data request to the endpoint by a reader in the AMR system, wherein the request specifies coordinates of the data structure under which the desired consumption data is stored.

191. The method of claim 187, wherein storing each obtained item of consumption data includes storing either absolute consumption values, or delta values.

192. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system endpoint, comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to a data store, the processor programmed to store a data structure in the data store that has multiple tiers of time granularity, wherein items of consumption data are stored in locations within the data structure corresponding to the time that each item of consumption data was gathered.

193. The endpoint of claim 192, wherein the data structure is a multidimensional array.

194. The endpoint of claim 192, wherein the data structure is a days x hours matrix.

195. A power conditioning circuit portion of an endpoint, comprising:

a battery;

a voltage regulator;

a set of capacitors; and

a switching network;

wherein the switching network can arrange the set of capacitors a parallel fashion to charge from an endpoint power source; and

wherein the switching network can selectively arrange the set of capacitors in a series fashion to boost a supply voltage to the voltage regulator.