RF repeater for automatic meter reading system

• US 5,874,903 A
• Filed: 06/06/1997
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elster Electricity LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABB Power T&D Limited (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Shuey, Kenneth C., Smith, Kathryn J., Hemminger, Rodney C., Bragg, Arnold W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/870,640
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.18, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/825.58, 340/825.69, 340/825.71, 340/825.72, 455/66, 455/88, 375/211, 375/216, 375/273, 375/269
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• 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: 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

An automatic meter reading system utilizes repeater technology to access hard to read meters within a fixed network structure. The components of the radio system that are needed for two-way communications are employed without adding significant cost to the meter. Using this approach, each meter in the network has the ability to repeat messages as required.

Claims

1. A utility meter for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) network, comprising:

(a) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;

(b) metering means; and

(c) a controller operatively coupled to said RF transceiver and said metering means, said meter being programmed to receive a message from an AMR node via said RF transceiver and, depending on the content of said message, to respond to said node or repeat said message by sending a modified message in a format that is receivable by another meter in said AMR network;

wherein said meter is operable to receive messages transmitted with a first prescribed signal type and a first data rate, to transmit responsive messages with a second prescribed signal type and a second data rate, and to repeat messages with said first prescribed signal type, and wherein said second data rate is substantially higher than said first data rate.

2. A utility meter as recited in claim 1, wherein said first prescribed signal type is ASK.

3. A utility meter as recited in claim 1, wherein said second prescribed signal type is FSK.

4. A utility meter as recited in claim 1, wherein said first prescribed signal type is ASK and said second prescribed signal type is FSK;

and said first data rate is one of about 1 Kb/s and about 128 b/s and said second data rate is about 100 Kb/s.

5. A utility meter for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) network, comprising:

(a) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and

(b) a controller operatively coupled to said RF transceiver, said meter being programmed to receive a message from an AMR node via said RF transceiver and, depending on the content of said message, to respond to said node or repeat said message by sending a modified message in a format that is receivable by another meter in said AMR network;

wherein said meter is operable to receive messages transmitted with a first prescribed signal type and a first data rate, to transmit responsive messages with a second prescribed signal type and second data rate, and to repeat messages with said first prescribed signal type; and

wherein said first prescribed signal type is ASK and said second prescribed signal type is FSK.

6. A method for operating a utility meter used in connection with a fixed automatic meter reading (AMR) network, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a message originated by an AMR node;

(b) determining whether the message is to be repeated;

(c) if the message is not to be repeated, determining whether the meter must respond to the message and, if so, transmitting a responsive message containing meter data, said responsive message being characterized by a first data rate; and

(d) if the message must be repeated, creating a modified message and transmitting the modified message, wherein said modified message is formatted so as to be receivable by another meter in the AMR network, and wherein said modified message is characterized by a second data rate that is substantially less than said first data rate.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said responsive message contains meter data.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said other meter is adapted to receive amplitude shift keyed signals, and said modified message is formatted by amplitude shift keying (ASK).

9. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said other meter is adapted to receive amplitude shift keyed signals and said modified message is formatted by amplitude shift keying (ASK);

and wherein the method further comprises the steps of, after creating and transmitting the modified message, waiting for a response from the other meter and, once said response from the other meter is received, modifying the other meter'"'"'s response and then transmitting the modified response of said other meter, wherein the modified other meter response is formatted so as to be receivable by said AMR node, said AMR node being adapted to receive frequency shift keyed signals and said modified response of said other meter being formatted by frequency shift keying (FSK).

10. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising the steps of waiting for a response from the other meter and, once said response from the other meter is received, modifying the other meter'"'"'s response message and transmitting the modified response of said other meter, wherein said modified other meter response is formatted so as to be receivable by said AMR node.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said AMR node is adapted to receive frequency shift keyed signals, and said modified response of said other meter is formatted by frequency shift keying (FSK).

12. A utility meter for use in an automatic meter reading (AMR) network, comprising:

(a) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and

(b) a controller operatively coupled to said RF transceiver, said meter being programmed to receive a message characterized by a data rate is one of about 1 Kb/s and about 128 b/s from another meter via said RF transceiver, and to retransmit said message by sending a modified message in a format that is receivable by a node in said AMR network, said modified message being characterized by a data rate of about 100 Kb/s.

13. A utility meter as recited in claim 12, wherein said meter is operable to receive messages transmitted with a first prescribed signal type, to transmit responsive messages with a second prescribed signal type, and to repeat messages with said first prescribed signal type.

14. A utility meter as recited in claim 13, wherein said first prescribed signal type is ASK and said second prescribed signal type is FSK.