USE OF A MOBILE DATA COLLECTION DEVICE

• US 20140141711A1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elster Solutions LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Elster Solutions LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Baker, Marvin C., Yee, Roberta, Makgill, Stephen S. Jr., Holman, D. Mark, Higgins, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,801,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile interrogator can be used in a system for hybrid employment of fixed network and mobile network communications. The system includes communication nodes. At least some of the communication nodes operate in a fixed network mode using one or more fixed wireless network communication protocols. At least some other of the communication nodes operate in a mobile mode in which they transmit meter data to a mobile device using one or more mobile communication protocols. The mobile device is configured to communicate with the mobile mode communication nodes using the one or more mobile communication protocols and to communicate with the fixed network mode communication nodes using the one or more fixed wireless network communication protocols. As a result, the performance of both fixed and mobile networks can be improved. A hybrid system can be realized that provides a utility company with advantages of both fixed and mobile networks.

Claims

1. A system for hybrid employment of fixed network and mobile network communications, the system comprising:

a plurality of communication nodes, at least some of the communication nodes operating in a fixed network mode using one or more fixed wireless network communication protocols, and at least some other of the communication nodes operating in a mobile mode in which they transmit meter data to a mobile device using one or more mobile communication protocols; and

the mobile device configured to communicate with the mobile mode communication nodes using the one or more mobile communication protocols, the mobile device further configured to communicate with the fixed network mode communication nodes using the one or more fixed wireless network communication protocols.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more fixed wireless network communication protocols comprise one or more local area network (LAN) communication protocols and one or more wide area network (WAN) communication protocols.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed network mode communication nodes communicate in accordance with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system techniques, and wherein the mobile mode communication nodes communicate in accordance with automated meter reading (AMR) system techniques.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device substitutes for a fixed network collector or repeater when that collector or repeater is down for maintenance or is otherwise not operable.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device sends commands to the fixed network mode communication nodes, the commands comprising at least one of configuration commands, commands to establish or terminate communications with another fixed wireless network mode communication node, commands for security operations, commands to switch between the mobile mode and the fixed network mode and commands for software updates.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the communications nodes operate in a hybrid communication mode in which they perform both fixed wireless network communications and mobile communications using the one or more mobile communication protocols.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device communicates with a first fixed network mode communication node to collect consolidated data collected from another communication node by the first fixed network communication node.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a user interface that employs different audio and/or visual indicators to provide information used by the mobile device to communicate with both the fixed network mode communication nodes and the mobile mode communication nodes.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device traverses at least some of the plurality of communication nodes using a route generated in accordance with meter route preference criteria and meter attribute filters.

10. A mobile device comprising:

a display; and

a user interface presented at least partially using the display, the user interface comprising a representation of a plurality of communication nodes, at least some of the communication nodes operating in a fixed network mode using one or more fixed wireless network communication protocols, and at least some other of the communication nodes operating in a mobile mode in which they transmit meter data to the mobile device using one or more mobile communication protocols,

wherein the user interface employs different audio and/or visual indicators to provide information used by the mobile device to communicate with both the fixed network mode communication nodes and the mobile mode communication nodes.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the user interface includes one or more touch sensitive components.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the user interface employs different visual indicators to indicate different types of nodes, different states of nodes and different read types associated with nodes.

13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the user interface employs different visual indicators comprising different colors, different shapes and different sized icons.

14. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the user interface employs audio warnings comprising instructions to adjust a speed and/or a direction of the mobile device.

15. A method for improved route navigation for traversing meters in a metering network, the method comprising:

receiving one or more meter route preference criteria, which describe one or more user preferences for navigating a selected group of meters;

receiving one or more meter attribute filters, which enable the selected group of meters to be filtered out from a plurality of meters; and

generating a route for traversing the selected group of meters in accordance with the meter route preference criteria and the meter attribute filters.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing, to a user, a group of available meter route preference criteria comprising fastest time, fewest miles, avoiding congested areas, and avoiding tolls; and

receiving a user selection of one or more of the available meter route preference criteria.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing, to a user, a group of available meter attribute filters comprising outage meters, service connect, service disconnect, demand reset, and verify read; and

receiving a user selection of one or more of the available meter attribute filters.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the generated route includes both nodes operating in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system and an automated meter reading (AMR) system.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

using a wakeup transmitter to transmit a wakeup signal to a battery operated meter; and

disabling the wakeup transmitter when a mobile interrogation device is stopped and/or no meters needing interrogation are included within an interrogation window of the mobile interrogation device.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining that a particular meter has been stolen as a function of historical received signal strength indicator (RSSI) data, read location data and/or current interrogation data;

including the stolen meter in the generated route without positioning data;

receiving a response from the stolen meter during route traversal; and

gathering RSSI data or generating a route towards the stolen meter by maximizing an RSSI value in the response.