Fixed network RF communications complaint with CEBus protocol
First Claim
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1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of utility meters, each said meter comprising a radio frequency (RF) module for transmitting and receiving RF CEBUS message packets in accordance with a prescribed CEBUS protocol, wherein said CEBUS message packets contain embedded AMR message packets in accordance with a prescribed AMR protocol; and
(b) a node for accessing data stored by any one or a group of said utility meters via RF communications using said CEBUS protocol;
wherein the CEBUS message packets include a plurality of fields, a selected one of said fields having a first prescribed format for messages from the node to the meters and a second prescribed format for messages from the meters to the node.
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Abstract
The CEBUS protocol is employed in an automatic meter reading (AMR) fixed network RF system while maintaining commonality and compliance with other CEBUS equipment. The AMR system comprises a plurality of utility meters, each meter comprising a radio frequency (RF) module for transmitting and receiving RF CEBUS message packets in accordance with a prescribed CEBUS protocol, wherein the CEBUS message packets contain embedded AMR message packets in accordance with a prescribed AMR protocol. In addition, the system includes a node(s) for accessing data stored by any one or a group of the utility meters via RF communications using the CEBUS protocol.
268 Citations
50 Claims
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1. An automatic meter reading (AMR) system, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of utility meters, each said meter comprising a radio frequency (RF) module for transmitting and receiving RF CEBUS message packets in accordance with a prescribed CEBUS protocol, wherein said CEBUS message packets contain embedded AMR message packets in accordance with a prescribed AMR protocol; and (b) a node for accessing data stored by any one or a group of said utility meters via RF communications using said CEBUS protocol; wherein the CEBUS message packets include a plurality of fields, a selected one of said fields having a first prescribed format for messages from the node to the meters and a second prescribed format for messages from the meters to the node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for operating automatic meter reading (AMR) system, including a plurality of utility meters and a node for accessing data stored by any one or a group of said utility meters via RF communications using said CEBUS protocol, each said meter comprising a radio frequency (RF) module for transmitting and receiving RF CEBUS message packets in accordance with the prescribed CEBUS protocol, wherein said CEBUS message packets contain embedded AMR message packets in accordance with a prescribed AMR protocol, said method comprising:
defining fields in CEBUS message packets so as to provide fields for addressing individual meters and groups of meters, wherein a selected one of said fields is defined as having a first prescribed format for messages from the node to the meters and a second prescribed format for messages from the meters to the node. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
Specification