Apparatus And Method For Establishing Communication From Remote Sites In A Fixed Meter Reading Network

• US 20110140909A1
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Badger Meter Incorporated
• Inventors: Malinowski, Michele R. B., Olson, John A., Laughlin-Parker, Kelly, Beverung, Ryan M., Saadeh, Theresa, Schultz, Randy, Lazar, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,471,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• 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 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: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for adjusting a transmission power level of a transceiver (12, 15) at a utility meter data origination site (10). A power level of transmission at the site transceiver (12, 15) is adjusted to an optimum level if an acknowledgement is not received from a network gateway (30) in response to data transmissions from the site transceiver (12, 15). Also, for each unsuccessful transmission period, the amount of metering data is increased in the next transmission period to make up for the failed communication tries. Upon establishing communication with the gateway (30), the site transceiver (12, 15) can receive commands from the gateway (30) that further adjust its power level of transmission to optimize reception at the gateway from a large plurality of utility meter data origination sites (10) within a geographical area served by the gateway (30). The gateway (30) communicates utility metering data through a wireless network (40), such as WIFI, GPRS, POE or CDMA to a data collection center (50) for data processing and billing operations.

Claims

1. A utility meter interface circuit for use in a fixed automatic meter reading network, the utility meter interface circuit comprising:

a site transmitter that transmits a first message as a first transmission of radio frequency signals from one of a plurality of utility meter data origination sites in a condition to be received by a gateway fixed transceiver;

a site receiver at the one of the utility meter data origination sites that listens for an acknowledgement signal from the gateway fixed transceiver; and

whereupon the site receiver not detecting the acknowledgement signal within a defined time period;

control circuitry for executing one or more retries of transmitting the first message by transmitting radio frequency signals in a condition for reception by the gateway fixed transceiver; and

the site receiver again listening for an acknowledgement signal from the gateway fixed transceiver; and

upon the site receiver not detecting the acknowledgement signal within a second defined time,

said control circuitry adjusting the transmission power level for the site transmitter to an optimum level on a last retry and the site transmitter transmitting radio frequency signals in a condition for reception by the gateway fixed transceiver; and

the control circuitry being responsive to an acknowledgement signal received from the gateway fixed transceiver to skip retries and the control circuitry being responsive to a command that received from the gateway fixed transceiver to further adjust the transmission power level of the site transmitter.

2. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the first message transmitted from the site transmitter includes meter reading data for the last eight meter reading intervals.

3. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein after three tries to transmit a first message, and upon not receiving an acknowledgement signal, a second message is transmitted from the site transmitter and includes meter reading data for the last sixteen meter reading intervals.

4. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 3, wherein after three tries to transmit a first message and three tries to transmit a second message, and upon not receiving an acknowledgement signal, a third message is transmitted from the site transmitter and includes meter reading data for the last twenty-four meter reading intervals.

5. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein on the last retry, the site transmitter includes a global address in the communication to be received by any gateway fixed receiver on the network.

6. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein the gateway fixed receiver communicates through a backhaul network to a data collection center.

7. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 6, wherein the command from the gateway fixed transceiver to adjust the power level of the site transmitter is based on power level adjustment data received from the data collection center.

8. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 6, wherein the backhaul network is a wireless network providing Internet or cellular communications.

9. The utility meter interface circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the control circuitry is incorporated in a CPU operating according a stored control program; and

wherein the site transmitter includes a radio frequency modulation section for modulating meter data signals onto RF signals for transmission; and

wherein the site receiver includes a radio frequency demodulation section for demodulating data from RF signals received from another device within a network.

10. The utility meter interface unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the site transmitter and site receiver at the utility meter data origination site are formed by common circuitry.

11. A method of communications between a gateway fixed transceiver and a plurality of transceivers located at respective utility meter data origination sites, the method comprising:

transmitting radio frequency signals from a site transmitter at one of the utility meter data origination sites in a first message to be received by the gateway fixed transceiver;

listening at the site transmitter for an acknowledgement signal from the gateway fixed transceiver; and

upon not detecting the acknowledgement signal within a defined time period,

transmitting radio frequency signals from the site transmitter in one or more retries of the first message for reception by the gateway fixed transceiver; and

listening at the site transmitter for an acknowledgement signal from the gateway fixed transceiver; and

upon not detecting the acknowledgement signal within a second defined time period or within a number of retries at the utility meter data origination site,

increasing a power level of the transmission from the site transmitter by a predetermined amount and transmitting radio frequency signals on a last retry for reception of the first message by the gateway fixed transceiver; and

wherein upon receiving the radio frequency signals from the site transmitter, the gateway fixed transceiver sends an acknowledgement signal; and

wherein the gateway fixed transceiver is adapted to transmit a command to adjust the power level of transmission of the site transmitter for further communications.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the first message from the site transmitter includes meter reading data for a last eight meter reading intervals.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein after three tries to transmit a first message, and upon not receiving an acknowledgement signal, a second message is transmitted from the site transmitter and includes meter reading data for a last sixteen meter reading intervals.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein after three tries to transmit a first message and three tries to transmit a second message, and upon not receiving an acknowledgement signal, a third message is transmitted from the site transmitter and includes meter reading data for a last twenty-four meter reading intervals.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein on the last retry, the site transmitter includes a global address in the first message to be received by any gateway fixed receiver on the network.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the gateway fixed transceiver also transmits data received from a site transmitter to a data collection center;

and wherein the data collection center determines a new transmission power level for the site based on the data received from the site transmitter and other network conditions; and

wherein the data collection center then communicates the new transmission power level to the gateway fixed transceiver for transmission in a command to the site transmitter.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the gateway fixed receiver communicates with the control center through a backhaul network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the backhaul network is a network operating according to at least one of the following protocols:

WiFi-Internet;

Power-over-Ethernet to the Internet;

or a cellular network protocol.