UTILITY DATA COLLECTION AND RECONFIGURATIONS IN A UTILITY METERING SYSTEM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In an automatic meter reading system comprising at least one reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency 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, a method of assessing or predicting communication reliability, the method comprising:
- receiving a message transmitted between a first reader and a first endpoint;
measuring a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the message; and
making a decision affecting future communication between the first reader and the first endpoint based on the measured RSSI.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A one-and two-way wireless data collection system for a utility metering environment includes multiple endpoints with wireless transceivers, and a collector with transceiver for communicating with the endpoints.
171 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. In an automatic meter reading system comprising at least one reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency 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, a method of assessing or predicting communication reliability, the method comprising:
-
receiving a message transmitted between a first reader and a first endpoint; measuring a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the message; and making a decision affecting future communication between the first reader and the first endpoint based on the measured RSSI. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. In an automatic meter reading system comprising a reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency 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; and 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.
-
-
12. In an automatic meter reading system comprising at least one reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency 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, a method of assessing or predicting communication reliability, the method comprising:
-
measuring channel clarity; and making a decision affecting future communication between a first reader and a first endpoint based on the measured channel clarity.
-
-
13. In an automatic meter reading system that includes a reader and a plurality of endpoints, each of the plurality of endpoints adapted to conduct radio frequency communication with the reader, a method of conducting communications, the method comprising the steps of:
-
initiating, by the plurality of endpoints, a communication session with the reader via an initial one-way communication comprising an identification beacon of the endpoint; and selectively initiating, by the reader, two-way communication with individual ones of the plurality of endpoints in response to receipt of an initial one-way communication from each of such endpoints. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A mobile daily interval meter reading system, comprising:
-
an endpoint and a reader; wherein said endpoint is capable of transmitting in either one-way or two-way RF communication mode, saves a plurality of intervals of utility meter data, and normally operates in a bubble-up mode using said one-way RF communication mode; and wherein said reader listens for said endpoint in said bubble-up mode, and upon detecting said endpoint in said bubble-up mode, utilizes said two-way RF communication mode to transmit a command to said endpoint to send a specified number of intervals in response. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification